F1 | It is increasingly Gilles Leclerc

The kind and polite trait can still be appreciated in the heat of the moment, when he has the coolness to utter conciliatory and relaxing words despite the obstacle race.

"I'm not anyone to ask Ferrari for clarification, but I lost a lot of time on the pace, I have the feeling that the best decisions weren't made for me, but it's Sainz's day and it's right that we talk about his victory and not mine. disappointment"

He wants to end any controversy in this way because after all, Charles Leclerc is like that, a champion destined to race often and willingly against an adverse destiny. Who doesn't seem surprised by anything anymore. Because Verstappen, Perez, Hamilton and the rest of the gang are not enough, it can happen and has happened that the first opponent is your own team, that there are misunderstandings and misunderstandings, that due and deserved support is lacking.

Charles Leclerc paints trajectories and puts on a show at Silverstone: he is aggressive and mean on Perez, he is furious with the race pace, he bites on the brakes behind his slower teammate, but Ferrari shrugs. In a strange and masochistic game of absolute equality between the drivers, the Red team forces Sainz to give way to Captain Charles only towards the end of the race. It almost seems that the order starts reluctantly and precisely because it is clear how much Leclerc is faster than Carlos.

Yet amidst a thousand difficulties, including a damaged wing, Leclerc had built his masterpiece step by step, the GP that would have relaunched him in the standings in a big way. When it seemed done he found himself racing at a handicap compared to five glued and aggressive drivers: all of them were on soft tires for the final laps, following the safety car, but not him, the first Ferrari driver and leading the race, precious material and worth treat with care, treated instead almost as if it were an inconvenience between Sainz and his first triumphant victory, as if this first of Sainz's career was the most important thing in the world.

Abandoned to his fate, while Sainz greeted him with fresh, soft tires, Leclerc ran with a knife between his teeth without giving up an inch. Despite the obvious technical disadvantage, the Monegasque still drew parables, invented world-class maneuvers, and bent the laws of science to his will when he overtook Hamilton on the outside at Copse with hard tyres.

Once again, not the first time, for generosity, talent, approach, spirit, Leclerc remembered Gilles. He warmed hearts, exciting the audience more than the driver who won in the red suit.

And to say that Sainz ran a good race, had a good weekend, he is not to blame because he was moved by the right and healthy selfishness that accompanies every driver. He won his first GP and will win others. Because he is an excellent driver.

Indeed, the Spaniard even gave way to his teammate when the wall asked him to do so. He's not guilty, but he doesn't have the class of Charles Leclerc either. Who drives like Villeneuve and shares with the Canadian the same romantic melancholy of the solitary hero, not always and not understood by everyone. A diamond. Which this Ferrari evidently doesn't deserve to have.

Antonino Rendina

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