All Ferrari enthusiasts are discussing the words spoken by Mattia Binotto who, speaking of a hypothetical Ferrari fighting for the world title in 2022, underlined how the ‘first guide’ destined to try to conquer the drivers’ championship that Maranello has been missing since 2007 would be Charles Leclerc. Words that certainly have a logic from a business point of view, considering that the Monegasque is – compared to his boxing mate Carlos Sainz – the driver in which Ferrari has invested the most. The native of the Principality is in fact bound by a much longer contract – expiring in 2024, compared to 2022 by the Spaniard – and by a higher salary. But, numbers in hand, is there a clear difference in performance between the two drivers?
Looking at the first 20 GPs of this season, with two more races to go, it can certainly be underlined that Leclerc has done better overall than Sainz. However, the margin between the two, both in qualifying and in the race, appears very narrow and certainly less wide than what one might have imagined at the beginning of the season, especially considering that the former McLaren is in his first year dressed in red. Leclerc at the moment the check against direct matches in qualifying for 12-8 and can boast two splendid pole positions, conquered in Monte-Carlo and Baku. However, the gap between the two is minimal. In the 17 qualifying in which both have set valid times (thus excluding the Saturdays of Hungary, Turkey and Russia), Leclerc is ahead on average by less than a tenth.
Leclerc also leads in direct comparisons regarding the 18 races completed by both drivers, with a margin of 13-5. In terms of points, however, the gap is only 6.5 lengths. This certainly depends on Leclerc’s two unfortunate retirements, in his home race and in Hungary, but also on Sainz’s impressive continuity of performance. In fact, the Spaniard scored points in 18 races, winning three total podiums this season, against Leclerc’s only one at Silverstone.
Certainly the # 16 proved to have therefore a margin on the new teammate, but much smaller than what is seen in other top teams, such as Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren. If this can lead Ferrari to have an interesting internal competition, perhaps even for the world title, only time will tell, waiting for both to have available. a car to fight with at the top.
Ferrari | Leclerc | Sainz |
Qualifications | 12 | 8 |
Q2 inputs | 20 | 20 |
Inputs Q3 | 16 | 14 |
Pole Position | 2 | 0 |
Average detachment Q. | +0.099 | |
Sprint qualifications | 2 | 1 |
Competition | 13 | 5 |
Top-10 | 16 | 18 |
Podiums | 1 | 3 |
Victories | 0 | 0 |
Points | 152 | 145.5 |
Withdrawals | 2 | 0 |
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