“He’s a super-positive force within the team,” Mark Hughes compliments Carlos Sainz after his contract extension with Ferrari

“He’s a super-positive force within the team,” Mark Hughes compliments Carlos Sainz after his contract extension with Ferrari

Mark Hughes, Carlos Sainz

Ferrari in 2022 has emerged as everyone’s title favorite. The team seems to have found its success mantra with the F1-75 and great chemistry between its two drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. And while the former of the two drivers have already signed a massive contract with Ferrari until the end of 2024, Carlos Sainz has also been given an extension till the same year. This means that both the drivers will drive side by side for two seasons, other than the current ongoing one.

This contract extension comes at a time when Carlos Sainz, despite standing on two podiums in a total of three races so far, has been outshined by his teammate. This has been termed as ‘poor’ form by many. However, according to Mark Hughes, this factor wasn’t relevant to the team, and the newly signed contract with the Spaniard is beneficial for both.

Mark Hughes complimenting Carlos Sainz, has said, “He’s a super-positive force within the team, bringing a great work ethic and a great ability to analyse car behaviour and translate it in terms the engineers can quickly grasp. Although the team loves Leclerc, at a technical level, it has perhaps a better line of communication with Sainz – and in a way that benefits both drivers.”

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Why is Carlos Sainz crucial to Ferrari’s plans?

Carlos Sainz after claiming P2 at the Bahrain Grand Prix
Carlos Sainz- P2 at the Bahrain Grand Prix

Ferrari signed Carlos Sainz in 2021, and in his debut season with the team, he outperformed Leclerc. This impressed everyone and certainly bummed out Leclerc.

Sainz has been a good performer for all of his teams. And with him in their seat, Ferrari has seemed to find a perfect drivers combination. For Ferrari, as Hughes puts it, “It’s his basic very high level of performance is all that Ferrari requires of him. In many ways it would be more convenient for Ferrari if Leclerc’s early-season edge over Sainz continues, enabling it to focus unambiguously on one driver as its title focus, with the other in support.”

He knows he has a great car, and he knows he can with the championship. With Ferrari, he has that chance and the opportunity. With him set to continue until the end of 2024, he has to make most of the resources available to him.

ALSO READ: “One of my most disappointing races in F1,” Carlos Sainz reflects on the catastrophic weekend at the Australian GP