Leo Turrini’s controversial comment on expiration of Ferrari drivers’ contracts. Leo Turrini's comments on Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz's renewals.

Formula 1 journalist and Ferrari insider Leo Turrini has shared his thoughts on the contract renewals of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, both of whom have contracts with Ferrari expiring at the end of 2024.

As we have now entered 2024, Ferrari has yet to announce the contract renewals for the two drivers. Both Charles Leclerc’s and Carlos Sainz’s contracts will expire at the end of the upcoming Formula One season. Frederic Vasseur admitted during the mid-December Christmas lunch that they are slightly behind schedule, but renewing both contracts is one of the tasks to be completed before the start of the championship.

Leo Turrini’s comments on Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz’s renewals

“There is this unresolved matter,” begins the journalist from Sassuolo on Sky Sport. “Neither Leclerc nor Sainz has, until now, put their precious signature on the extension of the contract expiring in 12 months. Fred Vasseur, in the press meeting, said, ‘We are not ready yet.’ I expect a signal to arrive before the new championship because it would be destabilizing for Ferrari to go to Bahrain with two drivers whose contracts are expiring.”

“Neither Charles Leclerc nor Carlos Sainz are like two yogurts. So, I hope that the blessed signatures of both will arrive in the coming weeks.”

According to the latest rumors, Charles Leclerc has reached an agreement with the Prancing Horse for a three-year contract until 2027, with an option for two more years and a substantial increase in salary if he extends his stay in Maranello until 2029.

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For Carlos Sainz, on the other hand, there is talk of a two-year renewal, which would lead him to participate in the first Formula 1 season with the new Power Unit regulations in 2026.

Leo Turrini did not just analyze the contractual situation of the two ‘red knights’ but also provided an update on the 2024 F1 car, which must address some chronic issues that Ferrari’s single-seaters have carried for years, including tire degradation.

“Ferrari has had this uncertainty since the Punic Wars. It has been years and years that the Scuderia has been unable to find a way to preserve its tires from wearing out too quickly.”

According to Fred Vasseur’s words, the upcoming Ferrari car will be different ‘95%’ from the SF23, although it won’t be a total revolution: “I don’t know if calling the 2024 car revolutionary is the right word. We have had the same regulations for three years, and you cannot change the situation tremendously.” – he pointed out – “It’s a matter of tenths of a second; we are looking for 1-2 tenths of performance, not 5. We will certainly have to take a step forward, and we don’t underestimate it. Revolution is a word that you use. I know that we will change 95% of the car, the pieces.” – the French manager concluded.

Source: f1ingenerale