Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz started the final triple-header of his Ferrari career in Formula 1 with a well-deserved podium.
However, that doesn’t tell the full story, with Ferrari far from convincing when it came to the instructions they gave to their drivers.
Charles Leclerc was very upset after the race, believing that he should have been joining the two Mercedes drivers on the unique Las Vegas Grand Prix podium.
Carlos Sainz may feel he should have at least finished ahead of Lewis Hamilton, but he had problems with both of his pit stops.
Hamilton and Leclerc will combine at Ferrari next year, with Sainz forced to look elsewhere in the paddock to continue with his F1 career.
Williams were the lucky team to pick up Sainz and while Ferrari’s communication with Sainz wasn’t anywhere near as clear as either driver would have hoped, the 30-year-old’s forcefulness and clarity in a high-pressure situation will help James Vowles’ team next year.
Alex Albon has plenty of experience but has had a torrid run in recent races and was forced to retire again in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto is quick but his lack of experience means Sainz is undoubtedly the better option for a team looking to take some significant steps forward over the next two seasons.
Carlos Sainz left in the dark by Ferrari radio messages during the Las Vegas Grand Prix
Ted Kravitz was reporting on the race in Las Vegas from the pit lane for Sky Sports F1 and was listening in on the Spaniard’s messages.
During the first stint, Sainz wanted to pit and Kravitz said: “Carlos is properly trying to convince his Ferrari tactician to do what he wants, but they’re not having any of it!
“They’re just not in the pit lane at the moment.”
Sainz’s short and sharp radio message then came over the airwaves and he asked again: “Can we box please!”
This left Kravitz very impressed and he added: “There we go! Leading the strategy once again Carlos Sainz for Ferrari.”
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height
Later in the race, Sainz was once again on the radio to Ferrari and still wasn’t happy.
After the two Ferrari teammates were told to swap positions, Hamilton was able to close right up to the back of them.
Sainz then nearly came into the pits before staying out, while the Mercedes driver changed his tyres.
Martin Brundle thought it was a ‘slam dunk’ penalty for the Spaniard before he pitted a lap later.
Sainz asked the team, “What happened?” and received the less than convincing reply, “We were not ready.”
The 30-year-old told the team, “Wake up, mate! Come on!”
Carlos Sainz still has plenty to play for before leaving Ferrari for Williams
With two races remaining, Ferrari have shown that they’re more than capable of winning Grand Prix at most circuits.
Qatar may be a challenge for the Scuderia but they will want to keep the Constructors’ Championship battle going down to the final race in Abu Dhabi.
These last two Grand Prix – alongside a Sprint Race in Qatar – are going to be Sainz’s final chances to win a race for quite some time.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory
Williams will want to improve their 9th-place position in the standings once Sainz and Alex Albon team up, although David Coulthard thinks Sainz could rejoin Ferrari in the future, but that will only happen if he impresses in a very different battle to the one he’s currently in.
Before then, Sainz can help Ferrari win their first team title in 16 years and is just nine points behind Oscar Piastri.
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