Does Charles Leclerc’s new contract end Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari dreams?
Carlos Sainz is still in talks with Ferrari over his future while his teammate Charles Leclerc received a massive extension from Maranello.
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Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc (Via IMAGO)
Charles Leclerc has signed a massive extension with Scuderia Ferrari. The 26-year-old will be part of the Italian team for the foreseeable future. However, Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz is yet to get an extension from Maranello. Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur had insisted that the Prancing Horse would renew both its drivers before the start of the 2024 season. However, there seems to be no progress on Sainz’s renewal so far.
Carlos Sainz joined Scuderia Ferrari in 2021 replacing four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. Sainz was perhaps the only driver that year who matched his teammate from the get-go. Many had suspected that the Spanish driver would play second-fiddle to Leclerc. However, the 29-year-old managed to exceed expectations.
Things have changed in the past two seasons. Charles Leclerc was the only driver who challenged Max Verstappen for the title in 2022 with Sainz struggling throughout the year. Moreover, the Spanish driver failed to be as consistent as his teammate last season despite taking the only non-Red Bull victory at the Singapore GP.
This might have coerced Maranello to solidify Charles Leclerc as its star driver for the future. the 26-year-old has a longstanding relationship with the Prancing Horse that traces as far back as 2016. Moreover, Leclerc has managed to build the team around him over the years and has even maintained a positive relationship with Vasseur.
Will Carlos Sainz get a new contract from Ferrari?
Carlos Sainz reportedly wants a multi-year contract with Ferrari, while the team wants to give a single-year extension to the Spaniard. According to reports, negotiations have stalled between the two parties. On the other hand, the Scuderia has given Leclerc a massive long-term deal. This could be a sign that Charles Leclerc is believed to be the team’s future as its lead driver.
Ferrari has often claimed that both Leclerc and Sainz are at an equal status. However, the Monegasque driver’s latest contract might paint a different picture. It has shown that Maranello prioritized an extension for the 26-year-old while making virtually no progress with Carlos Sainz.
Nevertheless, Sainz intends to stay with Maranello in the coming years. The Spanish driver could sign a two-year contract with Ferrari. However, the 29-year-old might not find himself in the same position as Leclerc in the team. As the Scuderia could be more inclined to favor the Monegasque driver in case of a teammate battle on track.
Carlos Sainz’s problem might be far more than the current negotiations. The 29-year-old might be forced to play second-fiddle to Leclerc at Maranello in the upcoming F1 season which could damage his reputation on the grid. In such a scenario, Sainz might have no chance to fight for the world championship if Ferrari manages to deliver a good car.
Certainly, Carlos Sainz needs to ensure that he would get equal treatment from the team if he intends to sign a new contract. The Spanish driver is still discussing his future at Maranello beyond 2024. The 29-year-old could look at other options including a move to Audi-backed Stake F1 team. However, it is clear that Sainz would prefer to stay with the Italian team. It remains to be seen if Carlos Sainz will continue with Ferrari and whether he will get treated on par with Charles Leclerc in 2024.
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Armaan Agarwal
(2310 Articles Published)