Ferrari announced on Thursday they had signed a new contract with Charles Leclerc keeping him at Ferrari beyond the end of this season. The fact the length of the Monegasques new deal remains a secret speaks volumes about the difficulties the Italian F1 team are having coming to a new arrangement with their other driver Carlos Sainz.

Both Sainz and Leclerc were out of contract at the end of this year and team boss Fred Vasseur stated at the Christmas bash in Maranello he wanted both his drivers new agreements in place before the cars hit the circuit for the coming season.

 

 

 

Ferrari announce just Leclerc

Yet the fact Ferrari have only announced one driver for 2025 and beyond is a clear reflection of the differences between Maranello and their Spanish driver.

Sainz made his position clear stating last summer: “I’m not going to lie, I don’t like going into my last year of a contract without really knowing where I’m racing the next year.”

“I went through that process both with Red Bull and Renault, and I know it’s not ideal as an athlete, and as a driver. It’s just not the right thing. And that’s why I have put this winter as a reference to try and figure out my future.”

Carlos who claimed Ferrari’s single Grand Prix win in 2023 has explained his preference is to stay with Ferrari yet was direct wit the media explaining he had other options should the Scuderia not meet his expected terms and conditions.

Andretti F1 legal battle looms

 

 

 

Sainz threatens to leave

“If not, it will also be time to look elsewhere. But that’s my priority and what I want to sort out in the winter,” stated there Spaniard.

With the Italian media reporting Leclerc’s new arrangement will be a five year extension Fred Vasseur was asked whether saw bot his drivers as long term assets. The Ferrari boss attempted to say this was the case, but the vagaries in his answer was bound to leave speculation rife that Sainz was not getting a new deal to the value of his team mate.

“We showed this season we have more than equal treatment between the drivers,” said the Ferrari boss at the Maranello festive party.

Of course Vasseur worked with Leclerc at Sauber and when he was announced as Ferrari team principal just over 12 months ago, reports emerged that he would favour his previous F1 protege driver.

Verstappen reveals special contract clause

 

 

 

Vasseur says Ferrari drivers equal

“I remember perfectly one year ago in the same room that I had tons of questions about Charles number one and Carlos number two and ‘blah blah’ and ‘blah blah’.” Vasseur reminisced.

“Singapore [where Sainz won] was the best example when Charles agreed to start with soft [tyres] to jump [George] Russell and block Russell and when we asked Charles to slow down Russell he did it. But it meant they did a very good job together.

“It’s not that we had a number one, a bigger asset, or not – but two drivers that are doing a good job,” concluded the Ferrari boss.

Yet equal opportunity on track in terms of pit stops and strategy does not translate into equal value in terms of how the drivers are remunerated along with the length of commitment Ferrari is prepared to offer.

Zak Brown forces FIA hand over Red Bull ‘B team relationship

 

 

 

Ferrari eye up Lando Norris

Clearly Ferrari would like flexibility in the coming years as a number of other exciting young F1 driver prospects will be coming to th market. Lando Norris for example becomes a free agent intake for the new 2026 regulations and so it would suit Ferrari if Sainz was only committed for one more season beyond his current deal.

Vasseur knows he has one of the better driver pairings on the grid and is desperate to retain them for the foreseeable future but in tying down Leclerc for five more years there Ferrari bioss is in an impossible situation whatever he states.

“Carlos was more than strong when he came back after the summer break, he had a very good sequence with Monza, Singapore and so on and it’s probably also part of the good results of Charles at the end of the season to have this kind of positive emulation.

“I will continue in this direction, but I don’t want to have one good asset and another one not a good asset.

Pirelli boss clears up ‘secret letter’ mystery

 

 

 

Cracks appear in ferrari negotiations

“We have two cars, two drivers, and one of the good points of the season is that they scored almost the same number of points.

“I will consider this last year in the same way, to give them exactly the same level of opportunity and the same freedom or the same approach in the strategy of the race.”

Yet the announcement of Leclerc signing a new deal but silence on the Carlos Sainz front reveals the cracks appearing in the plans Ferrari hoped to bring about. Whether this is designed to pressure the Spaniard to accept the one year extension on the table or not is a probable gamble Ferrari are now taking.

Carlos Sainz has other suitors and there recent Dakar win for his father in an Audi brought comment from Sainz Sir who was open over conversations he was having with the German brand soon to enter Formula One.

Bizarre claim of Red Bull slump from ex-FIA president

 

 

 

Sainz Snr suggests Audi talk

Speaking to motorsport.ex the rally legend explained:

“I know from my own experience how seriously Audi approaches motorsport projects. For me, it is therefore only a matter of time before Audi is successful in Formula 1. At the moment, all the pieces of the puzzle are being put in place to build a solid project.”

“I’m part of the Audi family, so it’s clear that we talk about Audi at home and what they can achieve in the future.”

This was a less than thinly veiled threat to Ferrari on behalf of their driver’s father, but even with the Audi F1 project looming Carlos wold probably prefer to remain at Ferrari until the start of 2027.

After Haas F1 sacking Steiner announces new big project

 

 

 

Audi project behind schedule

Sauber’s technical director recently admitted that: “I think ultimately, we’re probably not going to be the final [Audi] product that we’re aiming for until about ’27 time really, because there is a lot to do,” said James Key

“But we’ll be in far better shape as we approach ’26. And that will give us the opportunity to take the step forward we need to.”

Carlos began his F1 career within the Red bull family and but for the small matter of Daniel Ricciardo returning to V-CARB (formerly AlphaTauri) his current deal ending with Ferrari would dovetail nicely with a return to his roots.

Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko recently showed his admiration for Sainz when he observed earlier this week:

Haas F1 face extinction under new Concorde Agreement

 

 

 

Marko on possible Red Bull return???

“Sainz is, without a doubt, a great driver,” speaking to Spanish outlet Marca. “He was almost on par with Max in the Toro Rosso. The bad thing for him is that he was unlucky to have Verstappen as a team-mate.”

“Carlos was almost at the same level as Verstappen… almost, but when we had to choose between Max and Carlos, it was clear what we had to do.”

If it were not for Daniel Ricciardo waiting in the wings to replace the inconsistent Sergio Perez, this would almost have sounded like an overture from the influential Red Bull man aimed specially at Sainz that a return is on the cards.

It appears Carlos will finally end up signing the one year extension Ferrari are most probably offering, though it could be following Dr. Marko’s comments he asked for a release clause should Red Bull come calling.

READ MORE: Hamilton told to “stop moaning”, its lies