Sainz gets troubled by Ferrari again: big Audi contract already signed?

Sainz's world-class start not rewarded

When you have a world-class start on the soft tyre putting you behind your teammate after just one lap and seem to be on your way to a top result. The Hungarian Grand Prix could hardly have started better for Sainz, but that was beyond his team. Sainz was, in fact, got stuck behind Charles Leclerc. Ferrari could have intervened but inexplicably did not.

After all, if Sainz had such a start on the soft tyre, why not try to attack Lewis Hamilton with him? Leclerc didn't have the pace to do that anyway, so what's the risk of trying that with Sainz? Indeed, what happened is that Ferrari saw this as the ultimate result. They had managed to get Sainz behind Leclerc, better positions were apparently out of the question, according to the management.

Leclerc was allowed to stay in front, and Sainz had to keep the door shut from behind. Not that there was any threat from behind, as the Aston Martins had absolutely no pace to pose a threat to Ferrari. The only one who posed a threat was George Russell, but he was actually helped by Ferrari's tactics.

Russell laughing in 3rd 

Indeed, what unfolded in the race is hard to believe. Sainz was pitted first, which is not illogical on the soft tyre. Leclerc soon follows, but Ferrari's pit stop is another fiasco. The Monegasque waits for nine seconds, losing his place to Sainz.

Even then, there was no reason for Ferrari to panic. They didn't have the speed to stay ahead of Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton or Sergio Perez, but with the choices that follow, the team also squanders the chance to outsmart Oscar Piastri or keep George Russell behind.

It starts with the undercut for Leclerc. Why is he preferred to pit first? There is no chance to attack anyone, and Russell is also well behind them on the track. Why not Sainz? In terms of pace too, there is no reason to sacrifice Sainz for Leclerc. Indeed, by the end of the stint on the hard tyre, the Spaniard has pulled slightly further away from his teammate again.

Still, it is Leclerc who gets to go in first. Sainz follows a lap later, exiting the pit lane behind his teammate. Things get even more embarrassing when it turns out that Leclerc gets a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pit. How must Sainz feel at that point?

Is Sainz already with Audi?

Sainz was then used as a shield by Ferrari. He had to stay five seconds behind Leclerc and keep Russell behind. Sainz, who may have very little motivation left in the car, soon sees Russell pass. Russell then closes the gap towards Leclerc and moves ahead when the penalty is applied.

A disgrace for Ferrari but above all, yet another blow for Sainz. Once again, he played second fiddle, having been obliged to do so more than once this season. So many times he has been asked to drive behind Leclerc and not overtake, now the team added to it with an unnecessary undercut for Leclerc to accommodate it.

Still, if you allow yourself to be hung out to dry like this every week, you must have a fat contract in your pocket at Audi. It is to be hoped for Sainz that those papers have already been signed. If they are not, you have to wonder how you let this happen every weekend. Using a driver as a second driver is possible, but by abusing him like this you ignore the talents the Spaniard has. Whether Sainz leaves or not, he deserves more than this. Leclerc is fine as a first driver, but you have to earn that and not get it as a gift from your team.