26-year-old F1 driver admits his teammate is doing a much ‘better’ job than him in 2024

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F1’s teammate battles will go up a notch at the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend thanks to the sprint-race format. There are two qualifying sessions, and extra points on offer.

Friday’s running will feature only a single hour of practice before the drivers chase lap time in the sprint shoot-out later in the day. On Saturday morning, the 100km race takes place in the FP3 slot.

There are eight points available for the winner, seven for the driver in second, and so on all the way down to eighth. Factoring in the fastest lap on race day, it’s possible to leave Shanghai 34 points better off.

• READ MORE: 5 unforgettable Chinese GP moments including Schumacher’s last win in F1

No two teammates are separated by more than 15 points at this early stage of the season. Fernando Alonso holds the biggest advantage, 15 clear of Lance Stroll at Aston Martin.

George Russell is also 14 ahead of a struggling Lewis Hamilton, while Sergio Perez is 13 behind Max Verstappen in the top two after the Dutchman’s retirement at the Australian GP. Gaps elsewhere remain very tight.

The McLaren drivers are separated by just five points, with Lando Norris a fraction ahead of Oscar Piastri. And even though Carlos Sainz missed the Saudi Arabian GP through illness, he’s only four back from Charles Leclerc.

One driver frank about his teammate’s advantage ahead of Chinese GP

Speaking to the press in China, via Formu1a.uno, Leclerc admitted that Sainz has been ‘stronger’ than him this season. The 26-year-old began the campaign with the upper hand, out-qualifying the 29-year-old at the Bahrain GP.

However, Sainz capitalised on Leclerc’s brake issues to grab third place behind the two Red Bulls, and has beaten him in every meaningful session since. His front-row starting position in Australia enabled him to lead a Ferrari one-two when Verstappen retired.

In Japan last time out, the Monegasque endured his worst qualifying of the season and started down in eighth. While he recovered to fourth in the race, Sainz again completed the podium.

It’s Sainz who will lose his seat to make way for Hamilton in 2025, but he’s had the edge nonetheless. Still, Ferrari could use this to their advantage.

Leclerc has drawn additional motivation from his teammate’s performances and insists he’s not ‘worried’. Come Friday afternoon, he’s hoping to strike back.

He said of Sainz: “He is doing a better job. Regarding Bahrain, it’s difficult to make comparisons because for my part I was facing some problems and I think it was a very good weekend on my part, apart from this problem. However in the last two races he was simply stronger.

“He is driving at a very high level, which I think is fantastic for the team and it’s great for me too. I’ve worked a lot on this aspect and normally when I work on points I’m quite confident that I’ll improve quite quickly. So I’m not worried, but obviously now I have to prove it on the track starting tomorrow in the qualifying shootout.”

Lewis Hamilton arrival could help Charles Leclerc

F1TV journalist Lawrence Barretto noted before the race in Japan that Leclerc wasn’t feeling especially ‘comfortable’ or ‘confident’ behind the wheel. And the events of that weekend bore that out.

Damon Hill felt it wasn’t ‘a good look’ to lose out to the departing Sainz. And colleague Bernie Collins was ‘worried’ by Leclerc’s explanation for his struggles.

Former F1 driver Jan Lammers suggested that the 26-year-old was ‘mentally shaken’, and some are already starting to question his credentials. That group includes 1997 F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who insists Leclerc hasn’t proved he can win a title.

However, Ferrari will fully expect the five-time race-winner to respond quickly. And team boss Fred Vasseur thinks he could go up another level next year alongside a driver of Hamilton’s calibre.

Leclerc’s immediate focus will be trying to challenge Red Bull this weekend as Ferrari arrive with an outside shot of victory. Hill has backed him to finish on the podium, splitting the two Red Bulls.