As Williams finally settled for the cash Logan Sargeant brings, rather than sign a driver for this year who is capable of scoring points, the Formula One driver market for 2024 was finally settled. Compared to the previous season with the retirement of Sebastian Vettel and Alonso’s shock move from Alpine together with the Oscar Piastri drama, 2023 was a sedentary matter by usual standards.

Mercedes settled on retaining Hamilton for two more years along with his team mate George Russell and somehow Sergio Perez survived the chorus of calls for him to be replaced at Red Bull Racing.

 

 

 

Ferrari admit being behind on contract talks

Yet a big question remains over how Ferrari are handling their winter driver talks. The Italian media reported before Christmas that a new 5 years contract was ready to go for Charles Leclerc but that Ferrari only intended to lock down Carlos Sainz until the end of 2025.

Sainz is believed to want a longer term contract which has become the sticking point in Ferrari’s negotiations. The team don’t wish to create waves by announcing their long term plans with Leclerc and be unable to field questions on the future of their other driver. 

The Spaniard was the only driver to win a race last year not driving a Red Bull car and whilst Leclerc is quicker over one lap his consistency doesn’t match that of his team mate. 

Fred Vasseur admitted at the Ferrari festive bash that the team were behind on their contract negotiations as he admitted: 

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Sainz states his claim

“I told you one year ago 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, it was very demanding and we had meetings and we started the discussions but we are late compared to the initial plan.”

In reality the demanding nature of the final weeks F1 schedule would have had little impact on those negotiating the driver contracts and the clear implications are they have hit a stumbling block.

Both drivers are contracted for 2024, but Sainz made it clear in June last year he did not want to begin this season without his Ferrari future resolved. He updated the media at a sponsor event in December in candid fashion.

“Obviously I want to renew and I’d like to renew for more than one year, not just two,” said Sainz.

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Contract speaks louder than words

“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.”

Parsing the media speak from Carlos is not difficult. He is suggesting that he feels loved at Ferrari but his contract offer will confirm whether that is the case or not. Clearly if Charles Leclerc is offered a five year deal and Carlos a mere one year extension to the end of 2025, that is not sharing the love equally and Sainz may chose to look elsewhere.

The next big media event the Ferrari drivers will face is the 2024 car launch set for February 14th. There will be a huge amount of media scrutiny over who are to be Ferrari’s future drivers and so the team have under four weeks to now resolve the matter.

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Albon tipped to replace Sainz

Sainz concluded: ”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.”

Again the Spaniard is clear, he wishes to be able to announce his future, with or without Ferrari before the cars hit the track in Bahrain at the end of February., so clearly other conversations must be under way in Parallel.

Alex Albon is now being tipped as a potential target for the iconic Scuderia should they fail to tie down their existing pair. And with Leclerc “taking precedence” above Sainz according to f1.com it seems likely the team will have a new driver for 2025.

Yet the report continues suggesting Plan B would be Alex Albon, who is “possibly one of the most highly-rated that is available”. Alex signed a multi-year deal at the end of 2022 but the length of this contract is unclear.

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Alex wants out of Williams

Albon single handedly dragged Williams into P7 this season ensuring them more than $40m more than Haas who finished the year at the back of the field.

Whilst Albon is “open” to being the focus point of the Williams rebuild as ESON reports he also “knows that he has several admirers elsewhere in the paddock”.

Having been ditched by Red Bull and forced to sit out the 2021 F1 season, it was always likely Albon would be tempted by a Williams multi-year deal. Yet ESPN also believe the British-Thai driver is “keen to get himself free of his current Williams deal”. 

He was approached by two unnamed teams last year, it is reported and were Ferrari to come calling it would represent a major opportunity for Alex.

Ferrari chief sacked

 

 

 

Williams set to progress in 2024

Yet should Ferrari manage to persuade Carlos Sainz he is loved  by offering him the contract term he desires, Albon will come to no harm at Williams who look set to be making better progress than the other three teams around them.

Haas F1 have just ditched their team principal and owner Gene is clearly stating no additional cash for development is on the table. 

James Key at Sauber admitted this week the merger with Audi is behind schedule and may not be complete for three more years.

AlphaTauri are moving s substantial part of their operation to near their sister team and the upheaval will inevitably cause seem chaos this year.

It could be the case Williams push on and challenge Alpine for P6 this season, given the turmoil which remains at the French owned squad – still with no new team principal.

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