According to a recent report in the German media, there is a difference of opinion between Scuderia Ferrari and Carlos Sainz in agreeing to the details of the contract extension, which should be finalized in the next few days. F1-Insider inform that Carlos Sainz has requested a two-year contract extension to continue with the Maranello team until ar least the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season, but Ferrari would prefer a one-year deal, while keeping the option open for a second year in case the Italian side would choose to activate this clause.
Ferrari would therefore want to keep its options open for the 2024 championship, but this would also create more difficulties for Carlos Sainz who this time next year would once again have to focus on contract negotiations rather than the on track performance. Less security regarding the future can affect any driver, as could be seen with Valtteri Bottas in recent years. However, an agreement is expected to be reached between Carlos Sainz and Ferrari.
The Maranello team and the Spaniard have confirmed for a long time that the contract extension is pretty much finalised for the 27-year-old to continue with the Italian side, as team principal Mattia Binotto explained as far back as December that his future with the team beyond the end of 2022 would be discussed, while Carlos Sainz admitted a few months ago that their direction was “pretty clear for Ferrari and me”.
“We are both happy with the situation and want to continue working together,” he added.
However, no official announcement about a new deal for Carlos Sainz has been made as yet, despite the fact that a confirmation was expected prior to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which takes place this weekend at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
Carlos Sainz started the 2022 Formula 1 season with two solid podium finishes in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, but then fell well behind team-mate Charles Leclerc in the Drivers’ Championship standings, holding a 38-point deficit to the Monegasque, due to his retirement in the Australian Grand Prix.
His DNF at the Albert Park circuit also led to discussions regarding the possibility of Ferrari using team orders at this early stage of the championship, but Mattia Binotto has confirmed this is not the case yet, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz who will be “free to fight” for the race win in Imola.
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Carlos Sainz impressied in his first season with Scuderia Ferrari, even finishing ahead of his Maranello teammate Charles Leclerc in the standings at the end of the 2021 season, but now has to work hard and adapt his driving style to the F1-75 car in order to recover the gap to Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari Driver Academy member Mick Schumacher has been linked with a possible move to Ferrari for an F1 seast and made no secret of his desire to follow in his father’s footsteps by eventually driving for the most successful team in Formula 1 history.
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