Leclerc and Sainz lined up sixth and seventh respectively, however each misplaced positions to Mercedes driver George Russell and Haas man Nico Hulkenberg as they crossed paths in Shanghai’s first nook advanced.
Sainz was pushed extensive in Flip 2 by an understeering Leclerc, who visibly struggled to get his tyres as much as temperature, additional illustrated by an enormous second for the Monegasque within the second sector.
Whereas Hulkenberg was simple prey for each, Russell proved a more durable nut to crack. Leclerc lastly handed him on lap 9, whereas Sainz needed to watch for the Briton to pit earlier than being launched into clear air till the mid-race security automotive.
“It was a little bit of a loopy race. What we did at first price each Charles and I one or two positions and that price us rather a lot within the race,” Sainz mentioned concerning the intra-team battle to Spanish broadcaster DAZN.
“Then we tried to observe the Mercedes, we tried to overhaul him however he stopped after which we stopped, we put the arduous tyres on very early.
“Within the final stint, I needed to go very lengthy, however we nonetheless managed to hold on for fifth, which I believe was the utmost we may do.”
Ferrari was tipped to do nicely in Shanghai, however that did not show to be the case because it struggled for tempo on the tougher Pirelli compound.
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
“Actually, we weren’t very quick this weekend, once you qualify sixth and seventh there’s not a variety of tempo within the automotive,” mentioned Sainz.
“Within the race, we anticipated to be higher however we weren’t, so clearly that is the circuit the place we suffered essentially the most.
“We have to examine if we have completed all the things we may with the set-up and if not, it is time to work on the automotive as a result of this kind of circuit did not go nicely for us.”
“I simply centered on attending to the top and ensuring Russell did not cross me on new tyres, and we managed to do this.”
Earlier within the weekend Leclerc felt Sainz “went a bit over the limit” defending his place to his team-mate within the dash race, earlier than declaring the matter was cleared up internally.
Sainz is F1’s highest-profile free agent on the 2025 driver market, as he’s set to depart Ferrari on the finish of the season following the Scuderia’s signing of Lewis Hamilton.