Charles Leclerc launched a sweary rant after finishing fourth at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday, in what his incoming Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton may view as a fiery warning.
The Monegasque driver was on course for a podium finish in Sin City but missed out after being overtaken by Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz, who finished third behind Mercedes duo George Russell and Hamilton.
Hamilton, 39, is set to team up with Leclerc at the Scuderia from the beginning of next season, calling an end to his fruitful 12-year spell at the Silver Arrows.
Leclerc, who started behind Sainz on the grid, swiftly overtook both Pierre Gasly and then his Ferrari team-mate to carve out a promising position during the early stages of the race.
After the pair were called into the pits, Leclerc came out narrowly ahead of the Spaniard and was instructed by the team that Sainz would not overtake him or put him under pressure.
But the driver was left to look the fool when Sainz put his pedal to the floor and roared past him into P3, claiming an advantage he would hold until the end of the race.
Charles Leclerc launched a sweary rant after finishing fourth at the Las Vegas Grand Prix
His tirade could be viewed as an ominous warning for Ferrari’s incoming man Lewis Hamilton
Leclerc was furious at having to play ‘nice all the f***ing time’ with team-mate Carlos Sainz
‘Maybe try in Spanish,’ Leclerc told Ferrari engineer Bryan Bozzi, highlighting that Sainz had not taken in his instructions.
After the race, he delivered an expletive tirade over Ferrari’s radio, clearly furious over his role at Ferrari alongside Sainz, who is soon departing for Williams.
As Bozzi thanked Leclerc for ‘doing his job’, the 27-year-old said: ‘Yeah, I did my job.
‘But being nice f**** me all the f***ing time. All the f***ing time.
‘It’s not even being nice, it’s just being respectful, I know I need to shut up but at one point is always the same so… oh my f***ing God.’
As his voice appeared to disappear, Bozzi asked Leclerc to pick up again, which only seemed to infuriate the driver more.
‘F***ing pick up what the f*** you want. And the radio is on, I am sorry,’ he continued.
Tension between the Ferrari team-mates has been high this season and the incoming arrival of seven-time world champion Hamilton will not fill Leclerc with any confidence over his role at the Scuderia.
The 27-year-old left the pits ahead of Sainz but was quickly overtaken by his Ferrari team-mate
Hamilton took second place on the podium and celebrated with race winner George Russell
Sainz, who finished on the podium in third, is leaving Ferrari to join Williams from next season
Hamilton, who left Mercedes in the hope that a new environment can push him one step closer to an elusive eighth F1 world title, will fully expect to be Ferrari’s No 1 next season which undoubtedly spells bad news for Leclerc given his own championship prospects.
It appears, after struggling to strike a balance with Sainz this season, that Leclerc will head into next campaign with Hamilton determined not to play Mr Nice Guy at Ferrari.
Despite finishing behind Leclerc, Max Verstappen claimed his fourth successive world title on Saturday, fending off Lando Norris’ impressive challenge with McLaren.
Given Red Bull’s lack of pace during the back end of the season, Ferrari will feel they have every chance of challenging for the title next campaign, especially with two highly competent drivers in the cockpits.