Why Sainz’s first win could be costly for Ferrari long term

But it was a race that appeared to slip away from him more than once as Ferrari strategy and team orders looked to play in Charles Leclerc’s favour.

Yet at the final pit stop, it was Sainz, not race leader Leclerc, who Ferrari opted to bring in for a fresh set of soft tyres that would ultimately prove critical in his late charge to victory.

Although the result has boosted Sainz, it meant Leclerc could not fully capitalise on title rival Max Verstappen’s difficult day,…