Spanish media slam Ferrari for neglecting Sainz

Another disappointing Sunday for Tifosi, in which the two Red cars laboured, way off podium pace, to P7 and P8 respectively. At Silverstne before that, the Red cars were P9 and P10, in the same order.

At Hungaororing, on a scorching Sunday from P11 on the grid on Pirelli Softs, Sainz made a superb start. Thanks to a stellar opening lap, he was tucked in behind teammate Leclerc, on Mediums. The Ferrari duo P5 and P6 as they completed the first tour of 70.

At that early stage, Sainz was visibly faster on fresher rubber, but the pitwall did not ask Leclerc to moveover despite running the cars on different strategies. The Spaniard on Softs should have got a free pass but didn't.

By the end of the afternoon, it was clear Ferrari had Sainz destined to finish behind Leclerc. And indeed, if that's the plan even when they are in single-digit point territory, imagine how it will be when they have a race-winning car.

After the race, when asked by reporters about the midrace undercut that gave Leclerc track position, Sainz explained to reporters in the TV pen after the GP: "I imagine it was done because of the bad 'pit-stop' Charles (Leclerc) had. The team has decided to compensate.

"But I'm not angry. And no, I'm not so worried about finishing seventh or eighth. I'm really worried about going second and a half slower than Mercedes at the end of the race," insisted Sainz.

Notably, Ferrari and their drivers make no mention of the switcharoo that denied Sainz beating Leclerc in the team report. But no need as Spanish journos saw through the charade.

They ardently follow their two heroes - Sainz and of course Fernando Alonso - with similar fervour that Italian media tuck into all things Ferrari. Thus no surprise they are starting to cry foul, as their countryman gets second-class treatment from a team seemingly intent on marginalizing Sainz.

Influential and widely read Marca questioned: "Why is Ferrari slowing down its fastest driver?" Sainz of course. The report adds: "There were several episodes of the Budapest race that didn't go down well with Iberian fans and insiders.

"First of all, the lack of team order to let Sainz pass in front of Leclerc after the excellent start of the Spaniard, who jumped from 11th to sixth in a few corners."

It was obvious that Sainz should have received a wave through from Leclerc, given that he had soft tyres, against Leclerc's medium.

In a scathing analysis by Marco Canseco fired shots: "The Prince, as Leclerc is nicknamed in Italy is allergic to disappointment. Whether through his own fault or through others, as we saw in [Mattia] Binotto's time. The one who paying the price is Carlos, who has an unshakeable team spirit and whose complaints are those of a 19th-century English gentleman."

Fred Vasseur and Leclerc have a long history in motor racing. Sainz and the relatively new Ferrari boss don't. Charles is homegrown by Maranello and Sainz is of the Red Bull production line.

Canseco does not spare the Ferrari team principal: "An absurd double stop, a time penalty always for the usual [Leclerc] and the impossibility of overtaking despite being much faster on the track. Nothing new since the arrival of Fred Vasseur last January.

“What is understood, even if it is not confirmed, is that they absolutely do not want to disrupt Leclerc. The Italian press and the Ferrari management want to renew his deal as if he had won several titles and that Sainz has no intention of going to fight alone. And we're only halfway through the season..."

Stern words but truth in them for Sainz to absorb and ponder. History shows that apart from the Kimi Raikkonen/ Felipe Massa years at Ferrari when they got equal kit and treatment, the Scuderia's greatest successes in F1 are when the team focus on one driver.

Michael Schumacher the best case in point, but similarly when Fernando Alonso was number one. Ditto Sebastian Vettel until Leclerc dethroned him.

The same applies to the dominant Champions of the era beyond Schumacher. Flavio Briatore and Renault did everything for Alonso when he ruled F1 for two years. Red Bull did the same with Vettel. Mercedes copied the formula with Lewis Hamilton and now we have Team Verstappen aka Red Bull Racing.

One imagines that finally the penny has dropped at Maranello, that the Schumi-template for F1 success is the way to go. Putting all eggs in one basket makes sense as history shows. That the chosen basket for the team's future is clearly Leclerc's.

Which makes a very solid case for Sainz to do as many predict and join his old McLaren boss, Andreas Seidl to spearhead the forthcoming Audi F1 project. Or find another big team who may appreciate his services. Ferrari do not as everyone saw in Hungary.

Leclerc and Sainz are set to sign extensions to their respective contracts which both run until the end of next year. Thus whatever is inked will be for 2025 and beyond.