Sawt Falasteen - Sainz predicts more 'ding-dong' battles with Ferrari teammate Leclerc

The departing Spaniard, who is set to be replaced by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes next year, said their "ding-dong" during last Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix will not be the last this year.

But he denied he had ignored any team orders when he passed his Monegasque team-mate in the early part of the race.

"It's obviously not our first ding-dong," said Sainz, who is considering offers for his services next year, including a bold bid by rapidly-improving Williams.

"And it will not be the last! We always have one or two a year because it's completely normal when you have two drivers sharing the same asphalt for 24 races.

"They are always going to be there and obviously you want to keep them to a minimum, but the important thing is that after four years with Charles, the relationship has always been good.

"We've always solved these little ding-dongs by ourselves, without the help of the team principals, always discussing them among each other. And sometimes I would like to keep it out of the media because it doesn't help any of us."

He made clear that he did not ignore any team order.

"You saw it in the race – there was a team order to let him by and immediately I let him by. So, when there's a team order I follow it.

"I've always been the same. And I've been super pragmatic and super obedient with this team. In my four years here, I've followed every single team order.

"If I went for a move, obviously, it's because I believed – and I knew – there was no team order to hold position."

The pair tangled on lap three of last Sunday's race when Sainz tried to pass Leclerc, but he ended up running off down an escape road to re-join.

Sainz's competitive spirit has made him Williams top target for next year as they grow – having recruited 26 staff from rival teams – in a bid to rekindle the halcyon days of their earlier title-winning years.

Five more were announced this week with the arrival in August, following F1's European summer break, of former Alpine technical director Matt Harman, a move that is hoped will persuade Sainz to join Williams for 2025.

"We are on a mission to fight our way back to the front and being able to attract experienced, championship-winning talent from other teams demonstrates huge belief in the journey we are on," said team boss James Vowles, himself recruited from Mercedes.

"Williams is investing in what it takes to win and this is just the start as we prepare to welcome more new faces from across the grid in the months ahead.

"The world is changing and someone like Carlos, who is highly regarded in that regard in terms of the grand picture of where we are, has the choice of whether he is coming here or not. And that's his to make."

Y.Zaher--SF-PST