New 'bromance' in Formula 1? 'We have the same interests'

With the departure of Sebastian Vettel, Sainz has a particularly large place to fill at Ferrari, but the Spaniard has had little trouble with that during his first half of the season. Effortlessly Sainz seems to be adapting, and in the championship, he is even ahead of Leclerc. Yet there is still much Sainz wants to improve.

Bromance with Leclerc

''I still don't feel like I'm driving as consistently as I did in 2019 and 2020. There are still some things I need to improve, but if something goes wrong with me, Leclerc is there and vice versa,'' Sainz told Auto, Motor und Sport TV. The bond they have together has grown rapidly. After a bromance with Lando Norris, Sainz now also gets on well with Leclerc.

''It's a good guy. We have the same interests and goals. That's why we have a lot of good conversations. We also sport together sometimes, or go and play chess. Not only is he fast, but he's also easy to be friends with. If I enjoy it, then my performance is better too. Why should I mess with my teammate? That doesn't help me. It works better to laugh together.''

Place at Ferrari

Yet there is no doubt about the Spaniard's goal. ''We are close and pushing each other to set better times from the first free practice. I know how strong he is, and that also raises my level, because I want to beat him. For every driver, it is finally a goal to be the best in the field. You don't just want to beat your teammate, but I knew that at Ferrari I would be up against one of the fastest, or maybe the fastest driver.''

''In a car that Charles knows well and a team in which he is already fully integrated, you do wonder beforehand how you will fit in. After six months I can say how it went. My speed was there from the start. I still have some work to do to be consistently good for a whole weekend though,'' concludes the Ferrari driver.