Ferrari F1 contract talks delayed as Leclerc and Sainz plans become clear

20 December 2023 , 17:33

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Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are both out of contract next December (Image: HOCH ZWEI/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

Frederic Vasseur said a "chaotic" end to the 2023 Formula 1 season is what delayed Ferrari from beginning contract talks with its drivers.

Both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are out of contract at the end of 2024. Regardless, Ferrari have been in no rush to instigate negotiations with either of them.

Team principal Vasseur has now explained why that is the case. "They are under contract with us until the end of 2024. It means that we have still 13 months in front of us," he told reporters at the team's Maranello base.

"It's quite comfortable. We have still a lot of weeks and months in front of us. I told [media] that I will try to take a decision before the end of the year. I have to admit that the last part of the season was a big chaos for everybody. I think that it was very demanding.

"We had meetings and we started the discussion, but we are late compared to the initial plan. But it's not an issue at all. We are much in advance compared to Mercedes [who announced a new contract for Lewis Hamilton in late August this year]. We are easy on this and will take the decision soon."

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It remains to be seen for how long the team hopes to tie its drivers down for. A recent report from Italy claimed a new five-year deal is on the cards for Leclerc while Sainz may only be offered a one-year extension.

But there have been conflicting reports on that front. In all likelihood, though, it is Leclerc who is probably going to win a longer deal than his team-mate with the team keen to keep one of its seats relatively open in case it looks as though Lando Norris will become available when his current McLaren contract ends in 2025.

Despite that, Vasseur insists there is no driver hierarchy at his team and that he views them both on the same level. "We showed this season that we have a more than equal treatment between the driver," he said.

"I remember perfectly that one year ago I had tons of questions about Charles number one and Carlos number two and blah, blah, blah... It's not that we have a number one, the bigger asset. We have two drivers. They are doing a good job.

"I think one of the good point of the season is that they scored almost the same number of points [Leclerc outscored Sainz by just six]. I will consider this year in the same way to give them exactly the same level."

Daniel Moxon