Did Carlos Sainz help Charles Leclerc win Ferrari’s home race at Monza 2024?

Carlos Sainz’s crucial defensive driving and shared data helped Charles Leclerc secure a famous Ferrari victory.

Charles Leclerc's thrilling victory at the 2024 Italian Grand Prix was one of Ferrari's most celebrated moments at Monza, with much of the credit going to his teammate, Carlos Sainz. Although Sainz did not finish on the podium, his strategic defense played a pivotal role in securing Leclerc's win. Autosport's Mark Mann-Bryans emphasized that Sainz shared critical data with the team, helping Leclerc maintain an edge during the race. Sainz defended against McLaren's Oscar Piastri, preventing the Australian from challenging Leclerc​

Sainz's own race strategy, however, did not go as planned. After pitting later in the first stint, he struggled with tire wear towards the end, finishing fourth. “Staying out and extending the first stint made me lose some race time,” Sainz explained after the race. Despite this, he contributed significantly to Ferrari’s overall performance, helping the team amass 37 points​

This victory came at an emotional time for Sainz, as it marked his final Italian GP with Ferrari before his 2025 move to Williams. Although he missed the podium, Sainz was instrumental in helping Ferrari triumph at their home race​