Carlos Sainz explains Ferrari contract demands as F1 star sets deadline for deal

22 December 2023 , 17:06

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Carlos Sainz has been speaking about his Ferrari future (Image: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Carlos Sainz hopes to sign a new multi-year Ferrari contract before the start of the new season.

Both Ferrari drivers currently have deals that expire at the end of 2024. Charles Leclerc, though, is expected to put pen to paper on fresh terms soon - a long term contract of at least three years, though some reports have suggested it could be up to five.

There has been relative silence regarding Sainz's future. And when it has been discussed by reports from Italian media, suggestions have been that the Spaniard may only be in line for a short-term extension.

The 29-year-old has made it clear he would not accept that. "Obviously I want to renew and I'd like to renew for more than one year, not just two," said Sainz at a sponsor event. "You know my intentions and honestly I feel perfectly valued by Fred [Vasseur, team principal] and by the whole Ferrari family in general, I feel loved.

"Therefore, I will renew if I feel that way and I feel that I am valued. That as a driver that is the main priority. I am convinced that if we both want to, we will reach an agreement on a duration that I am happy with."

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He also said he is "convinced" that he and the team will come to a satisfactory outcome. And he wants to do so sooner rather than later, with just a little over two months to go until the new season gets under way.

Sainz added: "My goal is to start 2024 knowing where I'm going to race in 2025. I wouldn't like to start the season without knowing my next destination. My priority is to stay at Ferrari for many more years. I'm very happy, both parties are very happy and the objective is to continue, but we have to agree and we have these three months until the next race to reach that agreement."

Vasseur admits he would have preferred to have already resolved the futures of his drivers. Speaking last week at a media event at the team's Maranello base, the Frenchman explained the delay.

"They are under contract with us until the end of 2024. It means that we have still 13 months in front of us," he said. "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."

Daniel Moxon