Sainz and His Battles with Leclerc: "We've Been Like This for Four Years"

Carlos Sainz experienced one of the most challenging Grand Prix races he can remember in 2023, which left him eager for redemption in 2024. The podium finish was a triumph for him, though it fell short of his expectations. He faced unbeatable Mercedes cars, particularly Russell, whom he didn't even see after the start.

"We expected to be strong on the mediums, but they wore out quickly, and then it was a race to limit the damage," he explained after a "tough race" where he "wished he had the pace to fight Russell." It was a third place that felt good, especially after 2023. "I wanted Las Vegas to give me back something from last year, but I'll take this podium as enough. I was looking at the manholes every lap," he joked, in front of the Bellagio fountain, responding to questions from Jenson Button and the actor chosen for the occasion.

It will also be remembered for the complaints from Leclerc, who demanded that Sainz, who will not be his teammate in two races, let him pass. "We've been like this for four years," he responded. "We've fought wheel to wheel in almost every race, we're very competitive, and we've battled," he said, after insisting that although "third and fourth could have been improved," they couldn't do much more against the Mercedes' push.

Despite a qualifying session to forget and an Aston Martin that doesn't allow much, Fernando Alonso was reasonably pleased after the Las Vegas GP for finishing 11th. More for the feelings than the result. "It was the best session of the whole weekend because we weren't comfortable in practice and qualifying. It leaves a bitter taste to be so close to the points. I wish we could get back in the car, which makes us eager for Qatar," he stated.

There wasn't a substantial change in the car, beyond the fuel and the extra weight it entails, but there was a "very aggressive" strategy. "Starting so far back and brushing the point is very good. For the tenth, you fight for a point, and we do it because we are competitive," he explained, although they are not satisfied. "We can't forget what our goals are, which in Qatar will be again to fight for one or two points," he insisted. Delving further, and although it's not the goal he wants, Alonso fights for every point as if it were a victory out of respect for his mechanics. "You have to accept it, but not settle. In sport, you lose more than you win. When you give everything on the track, the mechanics will give everything when they have to work half an hour more or sleep half an hour less. But we can't settle for being behind," he analyzed.

The news of the day was Verstappen's crowning as a four-time champion, and Alonso was one of the first to congratulate him. "He must be very proud because he didn't have the best car for much of this year. He scored all the possible points and sometimes more thanks to his driving and talent, as he showed in Brazil. He has been the best this year, and we must congratulate him. We will have to keep looking for his weak points, which for now seem non-existent," he asserted before expressing a wish that both he and his mechanics and fans have. "Everyone who has fought with Verstappen hasn't been able to avoid it, I hope I can get there to fight with him and change history," he smiled, thinking more of 2026 than a 2025 that, barring surprises, will be very similar to this year.