Martin Brundle has warning for Carlos Sainz as Charles Leclerc continues to fly

Martin Brundle has predicted that Carlos Sainz may have to start supporting Charles Leclerc in the world championship fight if things do not improve for him in the next couple of races.

Leclerc has had a fabulous start to the season and leads the Drivers’ standings by 34 points.

Sainz, meanwhile, has admitted that he has struggled at times with the new Ferrari – despite achieving two podiums himself – and a costly retirement in Australia now leaves him playing catch-up in the championship.

That said, then, he needs to be careful that he does not lose so much ground that Ferrari decide to put their efforts in trying to win the title with Leclerc early on in the campaign, and Brundle believes he’s already at risk of that happening in the next few races:

“Carlos Sainz had the weekend from hell, missing out on a solid qualifying lap when his friend Fernando Alonso caused a red flag by crashing due to technical issues, and then with further engine starting dramas not delivering a representative lap,” Brundle wrote in his column for Sky Sports F1.

“Out of true position in ninth on the grid, he needed a last-minute steering wheel change which led to an awful start, and he then proceeded to have a brutal midfield fight on Hard compound tyres, eventually impatiently spinning off the road.

“He may well end up having to play a supporting role to Leclerc from here, depending on how the competition shapes up and if he can win the next couple of races, which is not out of the question.”