Enzo Ferrari once said, “Ask a child to draw a car, and certainly they will draw it red.” One of those kids was Charles Leclerc. Throughout his life, “It was all about the red car for me. You dream about being in Formula 1 and also a Ferrari driver.” He’s achieved both those goals, but he’s still waiting on another one. From the looks of it, he might have to wait even longer. Formula 1 is currently in its Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominance era. The Milton-Keynes team has been so strong this season that it’s won 16 of the 17 races so far. Fortunately for Ferrari, it won that 1 in 17. Unfortunately for Leclerc, it was Carlos Sainz who did the impossible. 

Verstappen and Leclerc grew up competing against each other. Their careers have had quite similar trajectories that only changed after joining F1. Verstappen is now a three-time champion and Leclerc? Well, he has zero. Even so, there’s no place Leclerc would rather be. And he isn’t the only one who feels that way.

Sainz and Leclerc share their love for Ferrari

In an interview earlier this year, Leclerc was asked if he ever compared his achievements in F1 to Verstappen’s. His reply had hearts melting. “Yes and no,” he said. “I would never change with him. In the sense that being a Ferrari driver has always been my dream, and becoming world champion with Ferrari is my goal. I know that right now, I don’t have the car to fight with Max, but I have no doubt that my path is the right one. I will look at my career when I retire, but I have no regrets or remorse, and I am happy at Ferrari.”

Leclerc knows his dream to win a championship is still a little too far out of reach. As long as he is a Ferrari driver, working toward that goal, he’ll be happy. There’s something about driving for the most prestigious team in F1. When people think of motorsport, they think of Ferrari. The Rosso Corsa Red has become synonymous with prestige and victory over the years (don’t count the past few seasons). Just as Leclerc paid tribute to the team he calls home, Carlos Sainz jumped on the bandwagon and shared his Ferrari first.

As quoted by formu1a.uno, at the Festival dello Sport, Sainz said, “Everywhere, you experience this feeling of uniqueness. There are fans all over the world, and when we arrive at Imola or Monza, it is even more beautiful. You can find them on the circuit, under the hotel, everywhere.” But nothing could beat the feeling of the first time he wore Ferrari red in 2021. “The emotion of when I arrived there for the first time, that I was able to wear red, go out on the track, with the fans and all the mechanics. My father was there, excited and emotional to see me dressed up and driving a Ferrari.” [Translated by Google]

Read More: Carlos Sainz Echoes Sebastian Vettel to Disprove Lewis Hamilton’s Rejection of Ferrari

As grateful as Sainz is to Ferrari and the Tifosi for welcoming him with open arms, they, too, have a lot to be grateful for in 2023 because of the Spaniard.

Carlos Sainz gave Ferrari and the Tifosi their season highlights

At the Festival, Sainz explained how being a Ferrari driver feels different from driving for any other team. He said, “When you join as part of Ferrari, you feel much more responsibility than elsewhere. The weight of the past and the legacy of this brand are pressures that I experience in a positive way. It is certainly special.” So far, the Spaniard has lived up to his expectations. In fact, he’s given Ferrari more than it would’ve expected this season.

After the summer break, Sainz returned rejuvenated and ready to go. When F1 headed to Monza for Ferrari’s home race, everyone expected Red Bull and Verstappen to do the usual—get pole position and win the race. But Sainz had different plans. Against all odds, he secured pole position in front of the Tifosi! On Sunday, he put up a valiant fight but couldn’t hold off the charging Bulls and finished on the podium in P3. A week later, in Singapore, he did what seemed impossible—he beat Red Bull. Not only did Sainz get a second consecutive pole, but this time, he converted it into the first non-Red Bull win on the season!

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What are your thoughts on the season Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have had so far? Can they challenge for the title in 2024?