Why Ferrari and Sainz’s F1 contract talks are still up in the air

While Ferrari last week confirmed Charles Leclerc’s contract extension, it was intriguing that the team did not simultaneously address Carlos Sainz’s future.

Sainz had previously been frank about not wanting to enter the 2024 season with his F1 future unresolved. In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com last June, he said: “I’m not going to lie, but I don’t like being in my last year of contract without knowing where I am going to be next year.”

“I’ve experienced that at Red Bull and Renault, and I know it’s not ideal for the driver, for the athlete. It’s not the right thing. That’s why I took this winter as a deadline to try and sort out my future.”

This stance is not at odds with Ferrari’s own position. At the team’s annual Christmas lunch in Maranello, team principal Fred Vasseur even made it clear that sorting both drivers’ contracts before the start of the new season was a “goal”.

“We met and we started the discussion, but we are a bit behind the initial plan,” Vasseur said then. “I don’t see it as a problem, we will make a decision very soon.”

With five weeks left until Sainz’s self-imposed deadline, Ferrari’s choice to announce Leclerc’s extension separately rather than waiting for a joint announcement has fuelled speculation that things might not be as straightforward as expected. It’s understood that Sainz is seeking a two-year renewal through to the end of 2026, but an agreement seems distant.

While talks continue, there have been rumours that Alexander Albon – whose Williams deal expires at the end of this year – is the leading alternative. However, there may also be an overinterpretation of Ferrari’s decision to announce Leclerc’s deal on its own, given that the Italian outfit rarely reveals its drivers’ news simultaneously.

Having tied down Leclerc, Ferrari has ample time to finalise Sainz’s contract and maintain stability in its driver line-up for at least the next two seasons.

Photo by: Ferrari

Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

From Ferrari’s perspective, there seems little reason to doubt Sainz’s credentials to remain at the team. He has excelled in his three seasons in Maranello, and his partnership with Leclerc is one of the paddock’s most well-rounded, pushing the outfit forward.

The Monegasque possesses remarkable talent that enables him to excel in qualifying and intense races; Sainz is a master technician with vast knowledge and technical sensitivity – qualities that engineers value greatly.

The two drivers are evenly matched, their differences negligible, and ultimately complementary to boost the team’s overall strength. Nevertheless, the fact that negotiations with Sainz’s representatives are taking longer than anticipated feeds speculation about the real situation.

It’s clear, though, that Sainz is in a stronger position than during his previous contract renewal. On April 21, 2022, Ferrari announced that the Spaniard would stay on for 2023 and 2024. At that point, Leclerc had two wins and a second place from the opening three races, while Sainz had scored podiums in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Two years on, Carlos is likely eyeing better terms, not just financially but also in terms of contract length.

It’s no coincidence that Ferrari didn’t disclose the duration of Leclerc’s new deal, as any figure would hint at the team’s long-term strategy.

If Leclerc’s new contract does indeed run for three seasons through to the end of 2027 (with options for the following two), as rumoured, that would confirm Maranello sees the Monegasque as a key asset for its future.

In such a scenario, Sainz would find it challenging to fit into his role. While there are no signs of a clear number one and number two hierarchy within Ferrari, there are other priorities – such as commercial partnerships and media exposure – that could tilt in the “number one” driver’s favour.

That said, victories matter immensely to the team principal, as evidenced by Ferrari’s wholehearted support for Sainz in last year’s Singapore Grand Prix.

Ultimately, Ferrari knows Sainz is the best option for 2025 and 2026. The Spaniard is equally aware that staying with Ferrari for another two years would be the optimal choice for his career. But with the negotiations dragging on, an agreement may require compromise from both parties.

Albon as a replacement?

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, Alex Albon, Williams Racing

With talks between driver and team at an impasse, it’s important to consider other options on the market. Lando Norris’s decision to commit long-term to McLaren rules him out for a considerable time.

So, if Ferrari is looking for someone who fits the team’s spirit, has good technical knowledge, and understands how a big team operates for 2025 and beyond, Albon is an obvious candidate. Last year, there were already whispers in Italy that he was the team’s long-term preference, although Vasseur denied this at the time, citing it was too early to consider driver negotiations.

It’s understood that Albon will be a free agent in 2025. While he loves life at Williams, the allure of joining a legendary outfit like Ferrari would be hard to resist. Last year, Albon said he wasn’t in a rush to sign with Williams, as he wanted to keep his options open.

“I think I’m confident enough to have an open mind,” Albon said. “I want to give myself the opportunity to fight for wins, fight for podiums. It depends on where we are at that time, at that point, can we turn Williams into that kind of team?”

But even if Ferrari opts for another driver, it doesn’t necessarily signal the end of Sainz’s F1 career. The Spaniard has often been linked to Audi. Recently, after his father won the Dakar Rally in an Audi, he praised the German manufacturer. Even teams like Aston Martin could be an attractive proposition.

However, a continued collaboration between Sainz and Ferrari seems the safer bet.

Translation/Expert Senior English Translator