The Madrid driver wants to resolve his future before the start of the 2024 Formula 1 season
There is little more than a month left for the start of the new season of Formula 1 and the days continue to pass without the future of Carlos Sainz being defined. His main goal for next season, to compete focused only on the races, and not with his head thinking about where he will race in 2025, is not being fulfilled. Although it is true that there is still time for the start of the 2024 World Cup, the leaves of the calendar continue to turn and Smooth Operator and Ferrari have not reached an agreement, yet, because everything could change.
Various news have been appearing regarding this fact. What is true is that from Maranello they prioritized the renewal of Charles Leclerc, which they announced today, before that of a Sainz relegated to a second term. The Monegasque was happy to remain tied to the team. Although the dates and numbers of the operation have not been revealed, it is said that il predestinato would have renewed until 2028, with an important and generous contract in terms of salary. Now, next up is Sainz.
The Dream Continues. Grateful to announce that I will continue my adventure in red. ❤️ @ScuderiaFerrari pic.twitter.com/e9S6ot1sP9— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) January 25, 2024
Carlos Sainz is waiting for Ferrari, but not at any price
Carlos’ future at Ferrari is more uncertain. If Fred Vasseur confesses a blind faith in Leclerc, with the Spaniard there are more reluctance. At first, il cavallino rampante would only have offered the Madrid pilot one more year, aware that in 2025, Lando Norris ends his contract with McLaren. And the fact is that the Briton is the true objective of the Italians to form a partner with the Monegasque, in which many have described what would be the ideal partner to compete against Max Verstappen and his ‘dominion’.
The Spaniard’s priority is to remain linked, for many years, to Ferrari. That’s his plan A, and he’s pushing to make it happen. So much so that he is listening to different offers to change seats, not only from Audi, to put those from Maranello on a tightrope, who will have to decide quickly. As the newspaper As points out, from the legendary team they are working on the possibility of giving Carlos Sainz a two-year contract (until 2026), so that he does not leave prematurely.
Carlos Sainz pressures Ferrari
With the renewal of Leclerc closed, the rush has now come to Italy, aware that Sainz is a great asset on the grid. In fact, his has been the only victory, in the past 2023, by a pilot not belonging to Red Bull. As for his particular battle with the Monegasque, despite the obvious preferences for Charles, it has always been very similar, so the narrative that il predestinato is better than Carlos is easily dispelled.
Be that as it may, despite the information that has come out of Italy all this time, there is no nervousness in the Spanish environment. At the moment, it seems that the paths seem destined to meet, Ferrari sources say that work is being done on those two years, although some important details remain to be resolved. The priority of the son of ‘El Matador’, as we said, is to be united with the Maranello team for many years, but he has plan A and plan B.
Many changes to the grid from next season
Either way, many changes to the grid are expected from next season. Only Max Verstappen (2028), Óscar Piastri (2026), Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell (2025) and now Charles Leclerc, have their future guaranteed. The rest will have to find the beans. At the moment, Sainz is waiting for Ferrari, but he is not playing everything for the Italians, with Audi as the main card, but not the only one.
