Carlos Sainz has revealed some of his discussions with Charles Leclerc about competing in the 24 hours of Le Mans, following Ferrari’s recent victory in the iconic event last weekend.
The Scuderia secured their first Le Mans victory in decades with the #51 car, as a team of drivers (including former F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi) claimed victory.
Aside from Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg, nobody on the current grid has competed in the 24-hour race – a fact that was highlighted and discussed on social media after Ferrari’s recent triumph.
Unlike in previous decades, when F1 drivers often competed in a variety of racing categories, it is rare to see drivers on the grid racing in other forms of motorsport.
Speaking to Viaplay in Canada, Sainz explained that both he and teammate Charles Leclerc are interested in the event. However, there is an obstacle:
“It was an incredible feat by the team. We are all very proud of what we achieved [winning the 24 hours of Le Mans].
“We were talking about it, actually, whether we could race together in Le Mans – with Charles.
“I would do it. It’s just the calendar of F1 nowadays doesn’t allow much flexibility.”
This description is not an anomaly, with Red Bull taking the decision to prevent Verstappen from competing in a Demo run at Nordschleife very recently.
Considering the multi-million contracts drivers have with their teams – and the potential risk of sustaining an injury in another racing series – it is understandable why competing in F1 often obstructs motorsport opportunities.
Aside from this, as explained by Carlos Sainz, the increasingly hectic schedule makes it difficult to make commitments during the season.
However, with motorsports’ popularity growing across the board, hopefully, the growing prestige and awareness for events such as Le Mans gives F1 drivers more incentives to make time for other racing categories.
The increasing presence of manufacturers in the Hypercar category, such as Ferrari and Alpine, could provide the most realistic opportunities for these crossovers.
Author: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
