Ferrari’s Turbulent Vegas GP: Cracks in the Scuderia’s Unity Exposed

The Las Vegas Grand Prix turned into a high-stakes drama for Ferrari, with internal tensions threatening to overshadow their fight for second place in the Constructors’ Championship. A race that began with promise ended with a podium for Carlos Sainz and a fourth-place finish for Charles Leclerc. However, the narrative was dominated by the drivers’ open conflicts and strategic missteps that laid bare the fractures within the iconic team.

The spotlight first turned to Leclerc, whose emotional outburst over team radio reflected growing frustrations. His biting comment, “They speak nice, but screw me over all the time,” was more than just a reaction to the team’s pit-stop strategy in Las Vegas—it was an indictment of Ferrari’s inability to enforce cohesion. Leclerc hinted at unfulfilled race instructions, painting a picture of miscommunication and recurring failures in strategy.

On the other side of the garage, Carlos Sainz defied team orders to stay behind Leclerc, overtaking him in the second stint to secure P3. Sainz defended his decision post-race, citing superior pace and tire management as justification. His refusal to yield highlighted a driver unwilling to sacrifice his race for orders he deemed counterproductive. With Sainz’s contract with Ferrari uncertain beyond 2024, his actions suggested a driver looking to prioritize his individual performance amidst a team struggling to maintain harmony.

Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, could not mask his frustration with the unfolding chaos. Known for his typically calm demeanor, Vasseur openly criticized the drivers’ public airing of grievances, emphasizing the importance of addressing issues internally. His remarks underscored the difficulty of managing egos and strategies within Ferrari as they grappled with increasingly complex dynamics. The pit wall chaos in Las Vegas only exacerbated the situation. Sainz’s request for an earlier pit stop to avoid slower traffic went unheeded, leaving him to rejoin behind Leclerc and sparking the intra-team battle.

Strategically, Ferrari’s decisions were far from perfect. Early aggression from Leclerc’s side, which aimed to capitalize on his tire advantage, backfired as his pace faltered later in the race. Sainz, playing the long game with a measured approach, found himself in a better position during the second stint but was forced to fight his teammate for track position. This lack of a unified strategy proved costly, allowing Mercedes to dominate with a one-two finish, while Ferrari’s internal conflicts dominated headlines.

The Las Vegas drama also raises broader questions about Ferrari’s leadership and future direction. As the team prepares for Lewis Hamilton’s arrival in 2025, managing a trio of competitive and high-profile drivers will require a level of leadership that Ferrari has struggled to demonstrate. The prospect of balancing Leclerc’s hunger for a championship, Sainz’s calculated confidence—if he stays—and Hamilton’s proven pedigree looms as an even greater challenge.

Despite the internal chaos, Ferrari’s 2023 car has shown improvement, and their standing in the Constructors’ Championship remains strong. However, the cracks in their team unity are becoming harder to ignore. The Las Vegas GP highlighted the underlying issue: Ferrari’s battle is no longer just against their on-track rivals but also against themselves. Without clear leadership and a cohesive strategy, the team risks squandering its potential.

As the season heads into its final two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, Ferrari’s immediate focus remains securing second place in the Constructors’ standings. Yet, the Las Vegas GP served as a stark reminder of the work needed to rebuild trust and alignment within the team. The pressure is on Fred Vasseur and the Ferrari leadership to turn the tide before the dynamics of 2025 introduce even greater complexity.

For now, the question lingers: Can Ferrari overcome their internal struggles to reclaim their place at the top of Formula 1? Or will their iconic prancing horse continue to stumble under the weight of its own ambitions?