Some fascinating intra-team battles are happening on the Formula 1 grid right now with some much closer than others.
Few F1 fans are expecting Lance Stroll or Logan Sargeant to suddenly close the gap to their teammates for example.
However, journalist and presenter Natalie Pinkham has spoken on the F1 Nation Podcast about a much closer battle.
On-track fights between teammates are always a concern for those sitting on the pit wall.
They’re always hoping that the two drivers will play ball and fight toward a common goal but that isn’t always the case.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has already admitted that he expects Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to tangle at some point.
However, Pinkham has suggested that Charles Leclerc is fighting to save his reputation up against Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz.
Team principal Frederic Vasseur made a huge call before the season even kicked off that will see Sainz move on at the end of the season.
If they both continue on their current trajectories this season, then that decision might be questioned more and more as time goes on.
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Ferrari star Charles Leclerc fighting to save his reputation
On paper, Leclerc is having a superb season, having finished on the podium twice in the first five races.
He’s also ahead of Carlos Sainz in the Drivers’ Championship, but things aren’t as rosy as they seem for the 26-year-old.
Sainz currently sits seven points behind Leclerc in the standings, but he missed the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to requiring appendix surgery.
He then returned to action in Melbourne and produced one of the most impressive performances over a race weekend that’s been seen for some time.
The Spaniard out-qualified his teammate and then took the chequered flag when Max Verstappen retired with a rare technical fault.
If Sainz hadn’t missed the race in Jeddah, he would be ahead of his teammate right now.
Leclerc will know Ferrari aren’t going to change their mind on who leaves the team to make way for Lewis Hamilton, but his reputation will be questioned if he doesn’t start being Sainz on a regular basis.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height
Fireworks could be on the way within the Ferrari team in 2024
Talking about the battle between the two Ferrari drivers in China, Pinkham said: “I think that’s just a heat of the moment thing, I don’t think that’s anything to worry about longer term.
“I think they’re both too intelligent for that.
“He’s [Carlos Sainz] fighting for his future and also Charles [Leclerc] is also fighting for his reputation as he wants to remind people why Ferrari stuck with him and not Carlos.
“Carlos has outshone Charles so far this season, he’s claimed all the headlines with his heroics after surgery.
“They’re competitive creatures but I also think once the adrenaline calms down a bit, they’ll reflect on that and recognise they’ve got to do the right thing by the team.”
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Zak Brown has already predicted that there could be fireworks between Leclerc and Sainz this season.
Leclerc’s reputation is unlikely to take an immediate hit from his Ferrari teammate getting to grips with the new car faster than he did.
Finishing ahead of Sainz in China would have also given him a small confidence boost before the race in Miami.
However, if he’s feeling any pressure now, it’s going to be significantly ramped up once Lewis Hamilton arrives through the doors at Maranello and the world’s spotlight is once again on the Prancing Horse.
The post ‘Fighting for his reputation’: Natalie Pinkham thinks 5-time winner has been outshone by his teammate in 2024 appeared first on F1 Oversteer.