A podium position remains sadly empty in this first part of the 2023 Formula 1 campaign for Carlos Sainz. The Spanish driver is not going through a moment of exhilarating form. There are mitigating factors, and it’s not an excuse. The Ferrari SF-23 is a car that has proven to be slow, unpredictable in behavior, hard to set up, and with such a narrow operating window that not even three overlapping sheets of paper could fit through.
Factors that drivers and technicians are trying to recalibrate. However, many months have passed and twelve Grand Prix races have been completed. During this period, the Spaniard has remained without a podium finish. Up until the Hungarian Grand Prix, he managed to stay ahead of Charles Leclerc in the standings. However, after Belgium Grand Prix (where Carlos was partially responsible for his optimistic entry into the Source corner), he found himself surpassed in their internal battle. Something that was already in the air has now been ratified by the three podiums achieved by the twin car driven by the Monegasque driver.
The “new” Ferrari revolves around Charles Leclerc
Three podiums certainly don’t place the former Sauber driver at the center of the technical-sporting project of the Prancing Horse. Maranello has made a significant investment in the driver, which has been repaid with strong performances. Instead, it’s Ferrari that owes a sort of debt to a driver who has given much more than he has received. For this reason, among other technical considerations, the team is working on contract extension.
Charles Leclerc is a cornerstone upon which Frédéric Vasseur intends to bet. The Monegasque driver’s contract expires at the end of 2024, and not counting on his services after 2025 is not even remotely considered. The Ferrari driver would have already signed the renewal with the Maranello team. The contract is a 2+3 arrangement, which will begin at the expiration of the current one. This is the information provided by FUnoanalisitecnica, which, beyond confirmatory rumors from other sources, awaits official confirmation from both sides.
Ferrari-Charles Leclerc, therefore, is understood as a winning package. Red Bull demonstrates this, and Mercedes has explained it in the past years: to win world championships, perfection in every aspect is required, and it’s necessary to feel like a key part of the project. Charles has understood that he can truly be the finisher that the team has been seeking to win the championship after many years of futile pursuits.
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If Ferrari is building its fortress around the former Sauber driver, it’s only natural that the other driver may begin to imagine that the future within the team isn’t as rosy. Carlos Sainz or any other driver who partners with Leclerc might not be placed in the best operational conditions. What’s needed is a driver who accepts the role of a supporting figure. And perhaps that’s not what the Spanish driver is aiming for.
Carlos Sainz’s contract, like Charles Leclerc’s, expires at the end of 2024. While with Charles, as reported, a contract extension seems imminent, the situation is different for the former McLaren driver. Although he considers Ferrari as his top option, it appears that he has instructed his representatives to explore the market for advantageous possibilities that could lead him away from Maranello.
Ferrari: Is Carlos Sainz Aiming for Audi?
The market is composed of needs that eventually intersect. Carlos Sainz’s need is to be a protagonist in an ambitious team, while Audi’s need is to create a new structure around someone with hundreds of races under their belt, a certain technical know-how, and the desire to get involved in a credible yet still emerging project. In 2026, the Four Rings will power Sauber, which has initiated a significant corporate and technical restructuring process starting this winter.
For its entry into Formula 1, Volkswagen has focused on a mid-tier team that is being led by hand. Andreas Seidl was appointed CEO, something more powerful than a mere team principal. The former McLaren team in Woking has also brought along James Kay, who is already working to create a stronger team than the one currently operating in Hinwil.
In this phase, Audi is finalizing its engine, but simultaneously, together with Sauber’s sports leadership, they are also contemplating the future driver lineup. While Zhou Guanyu’s contract expires at the end of the year (renewal is possible given the Chinese driver’s satisfactory performance), Valtteri Bottas’s contract expires at the end of 2025. Carlos Sainz would reportedly be eyeing one of those two seats, perhaps anticipating the 2026 technical revolution to gain a year of on-field apprenticeship.
There’s speculation that Carlos Sainz has signed a pre-contract with Sauber-Audi. This rumor was echoed by Auto Action, an Australian motorsport-focused portal, but it was denied by Motorsport Italy. This type of understanding is not binding and would only be a form of option that both parties sign to have a mutual preemption right if other negotiations fail. In essence, if negotiations with Ferrari for renewal fall through, Carlos would have a clear path to Switzerland.
The Spaniard has reiterated this multiple times: his intention is to know well in advance where he will be racing in the future. “I prefer to start a season already knowing where I’ll be the following year. My goal is to reach the 2024 Formula 1 championship without any worries and with a contract for the future already signed.” Therefore, there are only seven months left before the start of the 2024 season. In this timeframe, Carlos intends to settle the renewal matter. Otherwise, he will look elsewhere.
The main orchestrator of Sainz’s potential Swiss-German future is his father, Carlos Sr., who has multiple connections at Audi, thanks to the Dakar project. Carlos Sr. has always worked behind the scenes to facilitate the negotiation of his son’s contracts. This was the case when he had him included in the Red Bull young driver program managed by Helmut Marko. But it has also happened for his transitions to Renault, McLaren, and Ferrari.
Approaching the age of 29 (he’ll turn 29 on September 1), the Spaniard is seeking long-term stability. If Ferrari can provide it, along with a role at least on par within the team, then discussions about extending the partnership can take place.
However, if, as it seems, Ferrari has identified Charles Leclerc as the pivot around which the team should revolve, then Carlos Sainz aims for a multi-year commitment where he can be a protagonist and, over time, strive for the coveted world championship title that he’s never hidden his desire to win, feeling capable of achieving it. And for the scenario described in these lines, Sauber-Audi could be the group that fits the bill. If it’s meant to be…
Source: Diego Catalano FUnoanalisitecnica
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