Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz admitted the recent rumours that he and the Maranello team were no longer agreeing on the terms for his contract extension left him “laughing at home”.
The Spaniard joined Ferrari last season and had a very successful first year alongside the Maranello team, even finishing ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc in the drivers’ standings, with four podiums in 2021. As a result of his strong performance and the great working relationship with his teammate, a fast extension to his initial two-year contract was expected to be confirmed in the start of the current season.
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto admitted after the 2021 championship that discussions between the two sides would take place ahead of the new season, with Carlos Sainz also confirming he was “in the middle of the discussion” at the launch of Ferrari’s F1-75 car back in February. The Spanish driver later explained that things were “extremely close – nearly there” after the Bahrain season opener, where he scored a strong second place finish, securing a one-two for the Maranello team, just behind his teammate.
Mattia Binotto stated that “we found an agreement – it’s only a matter to translate it into paper”, but recent reports from the German media informed the the two sides were not agreeing on the length of the new deal: it was assumed that Carlos Sainz wanted a new two-year contract, while Scuderia Ferrari was pushing for just one year and the option for a second.
Carlos faced the media today, just a few hours after the Maranello team officially announced that the Spanish driver would be part of its line-up alongside Charles Leclerc until at least the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season, this putting an end to the speculation.
“You can imagine how much I was laughing at home when people started writing these things!,” he initially joked – “Because I had everything pretty much done and we were just waiting for Imola to announce [it]. Funny times, like always in Formula 1, with the gossip and all that.”
Carlos Sainz confirmed that agreeing his new deal with Ferrari was “super straightforward”: “It’s been easy going,” he continued. “I guess, after such a good first year we had. Just getting to agree through the winter was fairly easy for both parties and just now having the opportunity to announce in a place like Imola, in front of the Tifosi, on a weekend like this, it was ideal. So, we put together a good plan for the announcement being here.” – he added.
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When asked by Motorsport.com about how important the length of his latest Formula 1 contract would be in order to avoid destabilising his driving performances, he replied: “It’s key. It’s no secret recently that not only me, I think you’ve heard also other drivers saying that it’s important on the driver’s side to have full mind focus on the performance, on the racing, and not having to focus too much on what the future holds. And for me, I have been, since I discovered when I raced for McLaren, I’ve been very vocal towards [contract stability]. And yeah, honestly, I’ve been pretty sure all the winter that we were gonna secure this, so it’s not like I was worried in the first three races [so far in 2021]. But it always gives you that extra bit of a boost.” – Scuderia Ferrari Spanish driver Carlos Sainz concluded, ahead of the 2022 Emilia Romagna GP.
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