Charles Leclerc launched an expletive-ridden tirade following today's Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The Monegasque was furious at being overtaken by teammate Carlos Sainz despite assurances that the Spaniard would hold station following Leclerc's second pit stip.

While Sainz started ahead of Leclerc, the Monegasque got the jump on his teammate in the opening corner as he battled Pierre Gasly. However, having pushed his tyres too hard in his opening stint Leclerc subsequently had to yield to the Spaniard.

After the first round of pit stops they settled in third (Sainz) and fourth positions until the second round when the Spaniard stopped three laps ahead of Leclerc.

As he exited the pits following his stop, Leclerc was overtaken by the Spaniard who went on to head the Monegasque for the remainder of the race.

"Carlos has been told to not overtake but it's really close, he might be just in front," Leclerc's engineer Bryan Bozzi told the Monegasque as he left the pits.

He subsequently added: "He has been told to not put you under pressure so just take care of your tyres."

At which point the Spaniard passed Leclerc.

"Maybe try in Spanish," advised Leclerc dryly.

It was at the end of the race, when advised by Bozzi to pick up rubber on his tyres, that Leclerc truly exploded.

"Yes, whatever you want. As always," replied Leclerc.

"Charles, you did your job, OK. Thank you," came the reply.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I did my job, but being nice f***s me over all the f******* time, all the f****** time. It's not even being nice, it's just being respectful. I know I need to shut up but..."

"Charles, Charles," advised Bozzi

"It's always the same. Ah my f****** God!"

"OK," said Bozzi. "But anyway, you did the right thing for the team. And pick up please."

"Yeah, yeah. F****** pick up what the f*** we want... and the radio is on. I'm sorry. That was, not me."

Onboard footage at that point showed Leclerc hitting his steering wheel.

Speaking to reporters at race end Leclerc was loathe to talk about the situation other than to claim that earlier in the race he had allowed Sainz to pass without being told to.

"I think I did it on the first straight and I didn't even have the message from the team," he insisted of the move which took place two laps before he made his first stop. "I said on the radio that I will do it."

"I agreed not to talk to the media because we always talk here, we always make a mess," said Sainz. "I agreed with him not to say anything to the media."

Asked if the needed to talk to his teammate, the Spaniard said: "No, no. It's stuff between me and him. I never open the radio, I never talk to the media because I don't like it. It's not a nice thing to do. It's not necessary."

Team boss, Fred Vasseur was keen to play down the situation.

"I'm not worried at all," he told reporters. "I think, again, it's always the same story that they have to make comments or they don't have to make comments.

"They are doing comments and they don't have always the full picture. We will discuss and it won't be an issue.

"We have to avoid to fight, but at this stage I think that opening the stint, you have to be on the management side, and Carlos was already at lap three or four of the stints.

"I think it's more the fact that the situation was really difficult for everybody, but we will discuss tonight. It won't be an issue."

Referring to the team's strategy, which was openly questioned by Sainz at the time, the Frenchman said: "When we're discussing with Carlos for the pitstop, I was explaining that he was in the shadow of Lawson, Tsunoda perhaps, and he wanted to pit, we wanted to keep him on track. We were discussing like this and on top we had to swap and it was a bit of chaos, but when they are in the car they have their own vision of the race."

Of course, next year Leclerc will have Lewis Hamilton to deal with.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by itc, 25/11/2024 22:51

"Well, that little outburst will be enough to fund a brand new orphanage for the FIA......
"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 25/11/2024 20:44

"@Chester - Most Ferrari or Leclerc fans do not buy a new Leclerc hat or shirt every season. Hamilton will be a first. Larger pool of buyers for merchandise the first couple of years.

I expect it to be more like Tom Brandy at Tampa Bay. Aaron Rogers is not in the same league as Hamilton or Brady. Those two are at the highest echelons of palmares that can be achieved. The rarest of rare class.

I see Hamilton and Ferrari having a long partnership beyond his F1 sunsetting."

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3. Posted by meatball, 25/11/2024 18:31

"If Chucky thinks it's going to get easier when Ham shows up next season he'd better give his balls a tug. Sainz has shown time and time again that he has way more fight in him. Charles should know better by now. "

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4. Posted by Chester, 25/11/2024 18:21

"@BrightonCorgi, the picture you paint is one with a fair degree of crestfall for those 10 to 1 gear purchase fans.

Will Hamilton at Ferrari be like Aaron Rodgers going to the Jets? Or Tom Brady in his first year at Tampa Bay?

I am betting on something in between."

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5. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 25/11/2024 14:36

"Leclerc will be longing for Sainz next season. All things Ferrari will be focused on Hamilton; the tifosi and media along with it. Leclerc will be an afterthought.

F1 team gear sales will be near 10 to 1 in favor of Hamilton."

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6. Posted by kenji, 25/11/2024 12:57

"@Geeza 1966 Cerebral!!! Surely you jest?"

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7. Posted by Chester, 25/11/2024 11:09

"Cerebral and calm? I dispute that. Evey time something does not come out correctly, Dear Sir is complaining on the radio.
Both Leclerc and Sir are two peas in a pod with the exception that Sir speaks a bit softer and with less emotion when complaining.

Fireworks at Ferrari in 2025? Yes, there will be plenty to go around- and not all of them will be because one of the drivers "did wrong" by the other. Ferrari's pitwall calls have been historically poor at times precisely when they need to be brilliant. Pitting Alonso in Abyu Dhabi long ago likely cost him a 3rd WDC."

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8. Posted by Geeza1966, 25/11/2024 8:24

"Can't wait to see how this all plays out with Lewis arriving on the opposite side of the garage next year... A cerebral, calm experienced 7 time world champion up against a much younger, extremely talented and arguably the quickest driver over 1 lap.... Fireworks?? Maybe not in 2025 as Lewis embeds himself in all things red and Ferrari, but if the 2026 car comes out of the blocks flying, I wouldn't bet against a real old ding dong at Maranello.... Bring it on!!!"

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9. Posted by ffracer, 24/11/2024 22:02

"Bang on with the tongue-in-cheek article. Unbelievable. Charles Leclerc still hasn't grasped the simple concept of the mature, corporate team driver to deal behind closed doors but continuing with his immature rants on the radio or worse, convinced he sounds brilliant and that it's acceptable to resort to world feed to demonish his team because a team, filled with Latin temperament, will be moved to find it most endearing. "Che razzo di schimia e dal questo capo di cazzo!?" which, translated in cockney means, Mr. Moderator: 'beers together, mate?' Not..."

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Leclerc in furious post-race tirade

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