Leclerc not offering Sainz ‘any advice’
Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc says he has no need to guide Carlos Sainz as he makes his Ferrari debut as the Spaniard “knows perfectly well what he is doing”.
Sainz made his Ferrari debut at the Fiorano circuit on Wednesday, putting in laps in a three-year-old SF71H on a day he says he will “never forget”.
Covering 118 laps, the former McLaren driver spent his day learning Ferrari’s procedures as Leclerc watched on.
Now the most experienced driver, at least when it comes to working with Ferrari, following Sebastian Vettel’s departure, Leclerc is being billed as Ferrari’s team leader.
He, however, has no plans for passing any advice onto his new team-mate.
“If he has come this far, I think he does not need any advice,” Grandpx.news quotes the Monégasque as having said.
“He knows perfectly well what he is doing and this is a day for him to gain confidence with the team.
“I know the team a little more and that’s it.
“I have been watching him very attentively today (Wednesday) and I can only wish him the best of luck.”
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First time in red 🤩✅
What a memorable day for @CarlosSainz55 on track at Fiorano today 🇮🇹 #essereFerrari 🔴 pic.twitter.com/osz2gyRUbk
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) January 27, 2021
Although this week’s running, which included laps for Leclerc on Tuesday, is taking place in an old car, Leclerc reckons there was a lot for Sainz to learn as the “procedures are very similar to those we have now”.
As for Sainz, he says it was an “extensive programme” that he did on Wednesday, one designed to familiarise him with Ferrari.
“I was eager to jump in the car and that first installation lap was exciting,” he said.
“Then we got down to work and I am very pleased with how the day unfolded. We were able to get through an extensive programme.
“I was able to familiarise myself with the whole setup: the engineers and mechanics, the steering wheel, the procedures which are obviously a bit different to those on the car I drove last season.”
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