George Russell on Charles Leclerc-Carlos Sainz tension: “We found out what happens if he gets P2”. George Russell's comments at the end of the Las Vegas GP.

Three career victories for George Russell, who made some rather “fiery” statements at the end of the Las Vegas GP. In addition to the Mercedes one-two and Max Verstappen’s fourth title, the internal Ferrari duel dominated headlines. The tension between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz doesn’t seem to be subsiding, partly thanks to George Russell’s cutting remarks after the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

An unexpected Mercedes managed to clinch a one-two on the streets of Las Vegas, with George Russell taking the win. This success comes after his disqualification at the Belgian GP for being under the minimum weight limit. The performance allowed him to return to the forefront with a Mercedes that has been unpredictable this year.

In an interview after the GP, when asked about his race, George Russell addressed all the weekend’s hot topics. Chief among them was the strained relationship between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at the end of the Las Vegas GP. The two Ferrari drivers were involved in a heated exchange during the post-race interviews. On one side, the Monegasque driver expressed his frustration over the Spaniard’s lack of respect; on the other, Carlos Sainz referred to private agreements.

These weighty words highlight how Carlos Sainz’s presence has become increasingly problematic within the Ferrari garage. Unlike Charles Leclerc, who sacrificed himself for the team during the Austria, Silverstone, and Hungary triple-header, Carlos Sainz refuses to do so.

The tension exploded at the end of the Las Vegas GP and shows no sign of dissipating after George Russell’s comments to Sky Sports. “We found out some things about Charles’ contract. If he gets P2 in the championship, there are bonuses for him,” George Russell remarked.

However, these words trace back to 2023, when George Russell was interviewed after the Las Vegas GP alongside Lando Norris. Yet, they remain highly relevant now, as Charles Leclerc is just 21 points behind Lando Norris.