P1racenews AI automatic summary:
It got close between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz during the sprint race in China, with brief contact made between the duo towards the end of the event.
Charles Leclerc criticized Carlos Sainz for being “over the limit” during their battle for position in the sprint race in China. Leclerc and Sainz were fighting for third place in the race, with Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez also in contention. Despite Alonso’s retirement with a puncture, Perez ultimately claimed the spot while the Ferrari drivers lost time battling each other. Contact between Leclerc and Sainz led to Leclerc running wide but regaining the position on the following lap. Leclerc described Sainz’s driving as overly aggressive, expressing disappointment over losing out to Perez and settling for fourth instead of potentially third. Sainz defended his actions, attributing his tire degradation to early pushing in an attempt to overtake Max Verstappen and mentioning a battle with Alonso affecting his performance. Sainz acknowledged a moment with Leclerc, apologized if he went too far, and emphasized the intense racing atmosphere of the day.
