Leclerc opens up on talks with Sainz after Las Vegas frustrations as he insists focus is on Ferrari winning constructors’ title

Charles Leclerc has confirmed that he has cleared the air with team mate Carlos Sainz following the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a race in which he was overtaken by the Spaniard and later voiced his frustrations over the radio.

While Leclerc initially made a strong start to the event and launched a challenge against leader George Russell, the Monegasque dropped backwards due to struggles with his medium tyres.

PADDOCK INSIDER: McLaren vs Ferrari vs Red Bull – Qatar kicks off the two-race shootout to decide the 2024 constructors' championship

He went on to enjoy stronger stints on the hard compound, but after emerging back on track ahead of Sainz following his second pit stop, the 27-year-old was then almost immediately passed by his team mate.

After crossing the line in fourth – one place behind Sainz – Leclerc shared his complaints via the radio, something that team boss Fred Vasseur later said would be “discussed”.

Asked ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix what his main frustrations had been following the race in Nevada, Leclerc responded: “I don’t want to go back to what happened in Vegas.

“[It’s] the last two races of the season and we need to do absolutely everything in order to get that constructors’ championship.

TECH WEEKLY: How the top four teams reduced downforce in Las Vegas – with different degrees of success

“That’s all that matters, and whatever happened in Vegas we discussed about it and we are all good, which is the most important thing.

“I had no doubts about that because we’ve always had a really good relationship with Carlos and we’ve had races where sometimes things don’t go exactly the way we want, but the most important thing is that we discuss about it and we go forward.”

Leclerc reiterated that both he and Sainz are fully focused on helping Ferrari to clinch the constructors’ championship, with the team’s haul of points in Las Vegas putting them just 24 points away from leaders McLaren entering into the final two Grands Prix of the season.

“It’s very clear for both of us that we just want to win the constructors’, and it’s by working as a team that we will achieve that, and I’m sure that there won’t be any problems with it,” Leclerc added.

NEED TO KNOW: The most important facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix

When pushed on whether he could clarify that this meant that he and Sainz had cleared the air, the eight-time race winner confirmed: “Exactly.”