![Leclerc grills Sainz's F1 engineer after TENSE fight at Italian Grand Prix](https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_1200x800/cf6f1528ee9c9aac96c15dfd3affe813cddc4cf6.jpg)
Leclerc grills Sainz's F1 engineer after TENSE fight at Italian Grand Prix
Leclerc grills Sainz's F1 engineer after TENSE fight at Italian Grand Prix
![Leclerc grills Sainz's F1 engineer after TENSE fight at Italian Grand Prix](https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_1200x800/cf6f1528ee9c9aac96c15dfd3affe813cddc4cf6.jpg)
Ferrari star Charles Leclerc brought a touch of humour to the intensely competitive atmosphere at the Italian Grand Prix by playfully grilling his team-mate Carlos Sainz's race engineers after a heart-pounding race.
Leclerc and Sainz had been engaged in a fierce battle for the final spot on the podium behind the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
READ MORE: F1 world champion reveals 'meetings' over Ferrari move
As the laps dwindled down and the competition heated up, Ferrari radioed Leclerc, urging him to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary risks in their intra-team duel.
However, Leclerc's determination to seize victory remained unyielding. On the final lap at the iconic Temple of Speed, he relentlessly pursued his Spanish teammate.
Leclerc locked up his tyres going into turn one, enveloping the scene in a cloud of tire smoke and nearly colliding with Sainz.
Easing the tension
The Variante del Rettifilo witnessed this heart-stopping moment, leaving Ferrari's staff and fans holding their breaths. Fortunately, both Ferrari SF-23s made it through the final lap unscathed, with Sainz securing third place and Leclerc finishing just behind in fourth.
In a charming display of camaraderie, Leclerc approached Sainz's engineers and mechanics at parc fermé, wearing a grin that belied the intense battle they had just witnessed.
Leclerc playfully quizzed them, asking, "Did I make you sweat?"
Just a little bit @Charles_Leclerc! 😅 #ItalianGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/BK9gHwowKS
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) September 3, 2023
Although Ferrari weren't able to defend their pole position from the unrelenting Red Bulls, the Tifosi were able to celebrate a podium place in their home country.
The third and fourth-place finish also means that Maranello-based outfit move up to third place in the constructors' championship, leapfrogging Aston Martin.
READ MORE: Sainz pinpoints TWO areas where Ferrari must improve after Monza
Related news
![Hamilton and Leclerc's disqualification explained by F1 aero expert](https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_92x92/9b179fb5c8c384f461aaab140d44d09e4d2ba27b.jpg)
Hamilton and Leclerc's disqualification explained by F1 aero expert
![Leclerc AGONY in Austin sees him join drivers who have raced through pain](https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_92x92/c3c37fe03c3c12e2efcd8e879935fec81e901597.jpg)
Leclerc AGONY in Austin sees him join drivers who have raced through pain
![Leclerc makes BRUTAL admission after securing Ferrari F1 pole](https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_92x92/baa8a8311a8f8df47a3bcd7f71d22e440637546f.jpg)
Leclerc makes BRUTAL admission after securing Ferrari F1 pole
![F1 star makes 'LYING' claim while discussing future with team](https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_92x92/473ace1a639953f7a3885082acc0303c2c59e090.jpg)
F1 star makes 'LYING' claim while discussing future with team
Most read
![FIA take action after Verstappen track limits mishap](https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_92x92/8196b3514fb1331eb87c3c66487d4382258e224a.jpg)
FIA take action after Verstappen track limits mishap
![F1 News Today: FIA make changes as Mercedes receive double penalty and Horner curses bad luck](https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_92x92/3aba5cd7b20b8ba5aa7d6bc7b7ec91b970a9ec44.jpg)
F1 News Today: FIA make changes as Mercedes receive double penalty and Horner curses bad luck
![Stroll issues Alonso Aston Martin contract verdict](https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_92x92/4c55ca57f5365a495c735671ad087bc8ef743abe.jpg)
Stroll issues Alonso Aston Martin contract verdict
![Red Bull to replace driver at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix](https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_92x92/294ba4c80b7bfe9998efc29865a56499c3495794.png)
Red Bull to replace driver at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
![Horner takes aim at Kravitz with savage jibe at Sky Sports pundit](https://sportsbase.io/images/gpfans/copy_92x92/afcc56837009b608e839005b1d1ff870af4eef4f.jpg)
Horner takes aim at Kravitz with savage jibe at Sky Sports pundit
F1 Standings
![](https://www.gpfans.com/images/main_gpfans_logo_.jpg)
Drivers
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Nyck De Vries
- Liam Lawson
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
-
Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2023
-
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Australia 2023
-
Grand Prix of China 2023
-
Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2023
-
Miami Grand Prix 2023
-
Qatar Airways Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell'emilia Romagna 2023
-
Grand Prix of Monaco 2023
-
AWS Gran Premio de España 2023
-
Grand Prix du Canada 2023
-
Grand Prix of Austria 2023
-
Aramco Grand Prix of Great Britain 2023
-
Grand Prix of Hungary 2023
-
Grand Prix of Belgium 2023
-
Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Italy 2023
-
Grand Prix of Singapore 2023
-
Grand Prix of Japan 2023
-
Qatar Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of the United States 2023
-
Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2023
-
Rolex Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2023
-
Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023
-
Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2023
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
![Realtimes | Publishing Network](https://www.gpfans.com/images/rtnetwerk_logo.png)
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860