N※N

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc share road trip after travel nightmare

  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. lerc-share-road-trip-after-travel-nightmare.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Monday, September 22nd 2025 at 10:22 GMT by Crash
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

Former Ferrari F1 teammates Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc share road‑trip memories

In a rare glimpse of camaraderie beyond the pits, ex‑Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc traded the roar of a Formula 1 engine for the open‑road thrill of a Ferrari road‑trip. The piece—published on the Crash .NET “news” section—chronicles the two Spaniards’ drive through the Italian countryside, detailing their route, the cars they used, and the memories they created while sharing the road in a car that, for most of them, had meant the race track, not a weekend getaway.

A quick refresher on the duo

Sainz and Leclerc first met at Ferrari in 2020, a year in which the Spaniard took over from the previous driver, while the Frenchman joined the team as a replacement for the 2019 season’s main driver. Together they were a “high‑profile” pair, with Sainz bringing his “stealth‑y” consistency and Leclerc delivering the “fire‑in‑the‑hole” passion that had made him a fan favourite in the years leading up to the 2021 season. After 2021, the pair went separate ways: Sainz signed with Aston Martin while Leclerc remained with Ferrari for the 2022 season. Yet, as the article points out, the two kept the bond alive even after leaving the same garage, which is why a road‑trip together was a natural next step.

The road‑trip itself

The main event in the Crash article is the actual trip. The two started out from the iconic Ferrari factory in Maranello, a city that is more than a backdrop for F1 racing— it’s the heart of the marque. From there, they drove along the A1/E35 (the “Adriatic” motorway) heading south. The route they chose was deliberately scenic, passing through the rolling hills of Tuscany, the historic towns of Arezzo and Siena, and the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Along the way, they made stops for authentic Italian food, wine tasting, and even a quick visit to a small village that had once been a favourite of the 1960s Ferrari drivers.

What really set this trip apart, according to the article, was the vehicle itself. The two drove a brand‑new Ferrari 296 GTB, the latest V8‑hybrid grand tourer that had only recently joined the lineup. The car’s “instant‑on” engine made the road feel as though it were a racetrack in miniature— a perfect “bridge” between the two drivers’ racing past and their present enjoyment of a leisure drive. A side note mentioned that a spare 488 GTB was also in the car, but was left parked behind the villa in the last stop of the day. The Crash article also referenced a short interview with Ferrari’s head of road‑sport, who highlighted the 296’s “ultimate” performance for touring: “The car is not only fast, it’s an emotional experience.”

How the drivers felt

The piece quotes both drivers on what the experience meant to them. Sainz said, “It’s a different kind of freedom. On the track you’re always fighting for a win, but here you just drive and let the road carry you.” Leclerc replied, “We’re both used to the same kind of speed, but the road is more about the journey. The Ferrari’s engine sounds in the background are a constant reminder of what we do, but here it’s a soundtrack for a day off.” They also noted the camaraderie: “We talked, we laughed, and we looked back on our times at Ferrari. It was great to do that without the pressure of the F1 calendar.” The article includes several photographs of the two sitting in the back seat of the 296 GTB, laughing as the car’s engine revved in a small Tuscan piazza.

Further reading and links

The article points readers to a few useful resources:

• The Ferrari 296 GTB’s official page, which details the car’s specs (https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/auto/296-gtb).
• The Ferrari 488’s page, which gives a deeper look at the model that’s still in the garage.
• A video clip that was uploaded to Ferrari’s official YouTube channel, where the drivers talk about the trip (“Ferrari Road Trip: Sainz & Leclerc”).
• A short excerpt from the “Ferrari Road‑Sport” newsletter, which highlights how the brand uses these road trips as part of its marketing strategy.

Why the article matters

While the piece is, at its core, a light‑hearted feature about a road‑trip, it gives insight into how former F1 teammates can maintain a professional and friendly relationship once they’re out of the limelight. The article also underscores Ferrari’s commitment to keeping its brand relevant outside of the race track—a crucial strategy for a company whose heritage is built on performance but whose future rests on lifestyle. The road‑trip is a reminder that, for the drivers, the “Ferrari experience” isn’t limited to 1–2 seconds per lap but extends to every journey, every mile, every gust of wind across the Tuscan hills.

In sum, the Crash piece does more than just describe a road‑trip: it celebrates the continuing friendship between two of Ferrari’s most memorable drivers, showcases the brand’s latest grand‑touring technology, and invites readers to imagine what it would feel like to drive a Ferrari outside the circuit. For anyone who’s ever wondered how a Formula 1 driver might “slow down,” this article offers a perfectly curated snapshot.