F1: Carlos Sainz, facing his last challenge with Ferrari: the support of ‘Team 55’, a show of loyalty and a fire extinguisher in the bedroom

Last Sunday, as soon as he got out of the car and took off his helmet, Carlos Sainz He celebrated his third place in Las Vegas in a very contained way. It was the eighth podium in a season where he has also scored two wins. A real boost for Ferrari in its fight for the Constructors’ World Championship. However, no one from the senior staff of the Scuderia He approached to receive him. In fact, Carlos’s first hug in the playpen was for Roberto Merhione of the members of Carlos’ inner circle. A hard core that calls itself Team 55 and who usually celebrates each success by raising a fire extinguisher as a trophy.

Merhi, who competed in 13 races of the 2015 World Championship with Marussia, also traveled to the Qatar GP this weekend. Since the start of the championship, Here He has been supervising Sainz’s preparation in the company of Pierluigi della Bonahis physical trainer. With an unmistakable mustache and overwhelming friendliness, the Italian proudly shows off his two tattoos as an offering to the two victories of 2024. And he jokes about what happened in a nightclub in Mexico City, where he held Carlos on his shoulders, toasting the last one. Two signs of the climate that is breathed in the Team 55. There is hardly a trace of that camaraderie at Ferrari, forced today by emergencies and disconcerted by the scuffles between its drivers.

In these last two races, the team led by Frederic Vasseur needs to overcome McLaren by 24 points to win the Constructors’ World Championship. More than an objective, it is a requirement, given that it is already suffering the worst journey through the desert in its history. 5,869 days have passed since he won his last title in 2008. Nine days more than the previous drought, between 1983 and 1999. However, the recent events in Las Vegas and the characteristics of the Qatari route do not invite optimism this weekend. Neither for Sainz, nor for Charles Leclerc.

“looking into our eyes”

Early last Sunday, the Monegasque left the Strip Circuit very upset. In his opinion, Carlos did not want to respect the team’s orders, failing to comply with what was agreed in the briefing previous. So he saw a lost opportunity to close the gap with Lando Norrissecond in the World Cup, with a 21-point margin. His anger reached a hurtful point: “If he didn’t pay attention to what they told him, try telling him in Spanish.” However, listening in full to the radio messages contradicts Leclerc’s version. Sainz was able to overtake him on lap 33 without affecting his teammate’s pace and then defended himself against his harassment with the DRS because the graining his tires and his battery did not allow him a better pace.

“We all made mistakes. We have discussed it behind closed doors and we have turned the page,” Sainz explained on Thursday in Losail, after defining his personal bond with Leclerc as “very good.” A version endorsed by his antagonist: “Sometimes it was me who surpassed the limits and other times he did it. But we always talked about it, looking each other in the eyes.” This same season, the fans They already started to shake during clashes in the US GP and the sprint race of the Chinese GP.

So Vasseur had to put Las Vegas in order. According to the renowned journalist Leo Turrinifrom the newspaper National newspaperthe request of team principal He did not admit half measures: “You still have two weekends left together and Ferrari demands loyal collaboration. Giving up any hope in the World Championship due to individual whims would be intolerable.”

These types of warnings are not necessary with Sainz, who did not even raise his voice after losing his seat in favor of Lewis Hamilton. A very uncomfortable situation. Almost a betrayal. The straw that would break anyone’s patience. Sainz, committed to Williams until beyond 2026, is not going to close himself to a hypothetical return to Maranello. Burn the bridges, as demonstrated by the case of Fernando Alonsowill never be a good idea. Not even in this Scuderiadedicated since 2020 with a Leclerc that is known in there as The Predestined.

103 points at stake

Even knowing everything that is happening around him, Sainz wants to continue loyally defending the Horse until next December 8. If he recovers nine points against Oscar Piastrihe will finish fourth in the World Cup, the best position of his life. Just a few hours after the Abu Dhabi GP, he will test the Williams for the first time during an official test.

At the moment, the battle seems difficult against McLaren, which last October already put its two drivers on the podium in Qatar, only behind Max Verstappen. With 103 points at stake, including sprint race On Saturday, the Woking team starts as favorites to win its first title since 1998. The MCL-38 seems to adapt better to the fast corners of Losail, where last year a three-stop strategy had to be adapted due to tire problems . To alleviate these critical situations, the organizers have polished the curbs in seven of the 16 curves and have placed gravel strips to prevent those who go off the line from gaining an advantage.

If Ferrari still has options for the last chapter, Abu Dhabi is not expected to be a favorable territory either. During the past 15 editions at Marina Bay, the red cars did not achieve a single victory, running only 13 laps in the lead. In any case, that will be Sainz’s moment to say goodbye to Riccardo Adamitrack engineer, or Pedro Cebrián y Rita Simoninicommunication managers. Also with the engineers Calum McDonald and Riccardo Corte. All honorary members of the Team 55. That group of friends who last March in Bahrain posed for the first time with a fire extinguisher because Ferrari had already packed the original trophy.