Carlos Sainz expects to secure a multi-year contract extension with Ferrari, as F1 news stories about his future with the team circulate.
The last eighteen months have shown the unpredictability of the F1 driver market. Affectionately known as “silly season, ” the process of drivers swapping teams has become increasingly intense in recent years. Next year could be especially volatile, with over half the field on contracts that expire in 2024. Among them is Carlos Sainz.
Ferrari is currently fighting Mercedes for second in the Championship in what has proven a challenging season. Excluding the first half of 2022, the Italian outfit has only fought for occasional victories and podium finishes since Sainz arrived in 2021.
Generally speaking, the Spaniard has performed at a strong level for the Scuderia. Having outscored Charles Leclerc in 2021, he surprised most fans with speed compared to the highly-rated Monegasque. Although Leclerc comfortably outperformed Sainz last year, their almost three-year spell as teammates indicates they are evenly matched.
Perhaps the best evidence of their closeness is the 2023 season. The Ferrari duo are separated by only a few points in the standings, both suffering ups and downs throughout the year.
This has led to friction and disagreement at the pit-wall on several occasions. Sainz and Leclerc are often competing for the same section of track, leading to some close calls in Monza and Hungary. Some would argue this is a strength, with both drivers competing at a high level and pushing the team forward.
Others are less optimistic. In a hypothetical Championship battle, there are those in F1 who believe a clear “number 1” driver is necessary. Regardless of how credible this argument is, it will surely impact Ferrari’s decision-making when deciding their driver pairing.
Sainz anticipates a contract extension
Amidst all of this debate, Carlos Sainz is confident that an agreement will be reached over winter:
“I think there’s never been a doubt that I’m very comfortable at Ferrari, that I want to be here for the medium to long term,” he told Sky Sports.
“Also, the fact that there was always high confidence between each party. For me, the wins and podiums, the only thing they do is reassure everything that we already knew.
“I hope that the winter is a good opportunity to find an agreement and continue working in the future.
“Because it’s the place that I love driving for, and see myself driving and trying to help [win] a world championship soon.”
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Vasseur happy with Sainz-Leclerc duo
As previously mentioned, only a handful of drivers have a contract for 2025 and beyond. Therefore, the majority of drivers will be working to secure a new deal. This will make the winter period very enlightening – since it will show which teams are most enthusiastic about signing existing or new talent.
If Sainz, for example, agrees to a new Ferrari contract before next season begins, it will show Maranello’s belief in his abilities. Conversely, any delays in announcing an extension will indicate there is some hesitancy.
As it stands, there is no reason why Sainz cannot continue at Ferrari. Up until now, team principal Fred Vasseur has been very positive about the team’s driver combination. With that said, the next 12 months will answer any questions about the direction of the driver market.
