Last Updated on February 7 2024, 4:43 pm

The Italian Formula One media reported prior to Christmas that Carlos Sainz had been offered a one year extension to his current contract which runs to the end of this season. The Spaniard had claimed he wanted his Ferrari future certain before the beginning of this year or he would look elsewhere.

Well it is now apparent Sainz had pressed for at least a two year extension to his time in Maranello and rejected the one year extension offer Ferrari had made. La Gazzette reported a one year deal had been made to Carlos in early December yet the Spaniard was holding out to stay at Ferrari until the end of 2026.

 

 

One year Ferrari deal withdrawn

Then like a bolt from the blue Lewis Hamilton announced he was leaving Mercedes and set to drive for Ferrari next season.

Clearly there will be questions in Carlos mind over whether he should have taken the one year deal on offer given he is now looking for a vacant seat in 2025. Yet Sainz believed he was worth more to Ferrari and stuck to his guns demanding a longer term deal with the Italian team.

Shortly after the announcement, the Spaniard released a short statement: “We still have a long season ahead of us and, like always, I will give my absolute best for the Team and for the Tifosi all around the world. News about my future will be announced in due course.”

Yet there was nothing about his future plans and given Mercedes now haver a seat available it cold prove to be Sainz is in a better position than he was when offered just a one year contract.

Toto Wolff misrepresented Hamilton’s new contract

 

 

 

Best F1 teams to race for – soon revealed

A number of cards now must fall into place before the driver market going forward becomes clear. Mercedes and Ferrari have battled it out for best of the rest behind Red Bull the past two seasons and it will soon be clear who has the better car to start 2024.

The F1 drivers understand the rough pecking order even after just three days of testing and in Bahrain last year when asked how the car was on track Hamilton replied: “We’ve found out we’re a long way off.

“We kind of knew that a little bit in the test, but it’s a big gap. I’m trying everything I can out there.”

Of course Lewis has taken a huge gamble against Mercedes team building a championship winning car this year. Now he is leaving the team for Ferrari Toto and the senior management will be looking to George Russell as the new team leader.

Wolff: Timing of Hamilton announcement caused maximum problems

 

 

 

Sainz top target for Mercedes

When strategy calls are made, Russell will presumably be given preference but should the team issue positional orders to their drivers, its unclear whether Hamilton will obey them if he feels it is to his own detriment.

Whilst Toto Wolff suggested when caught on the hop, that Hamilton’s replacement may be “a bold decision”, implying Mercedes may recruit a ‘young gun’ driver it is most probable the team will look to experience to fill the hole that Lewis has left.

This is great news for Sainz given the only drivers with the amount of F1 racing behind them available would be Fernando Alonso or the Spaniard himself. Alex Albon has turned heads at Williams but he failed to prove himself a great team mate like Max Verstappen.

Daniel Ricciardo may be available after a year with the Red Bull junior team but expectations are he will either replace Sergio Perez during this coming year or indeed for the season commencing 2025.

Leclerc’s juicy contract clause revealed

 

 

 

Carlos reveals his feelings 

Sainz now has opened up on his future beyond Ferrari at the end of this year and the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race last year seems unperturbed by his situation.

When asked by Sky Italia whether failing to gain another year with the Maranello team was a negative, Carlos was adamant: “No, I was not disappointed.”

“Living Ferrari from the inside, I already knew several things and I prepared with the team for the changes ahead, though I don’t want to think about anything other than how to give my all this season for Ferrari.”

Sainz reveals he is making plans for a future in F1 beyond Ferrari but is focused on the season ahead.

Mercedes close ranks and back Russell “the leader”

 

 

 

World Championship is a target

“I am calm, we are already working on the future, but we know that we have a very important season ahead of us. This will be my last year at Ferrari, so I want to do the best I can.

“For sure it’s not the best feeling to start the season with, but the moment I put on my helmet in Bahrain and take to the track, the only feeling I’ll have is the will to go harder and harder, aiming also for the World Championship victory.

“This has always been and always will be my philosophy, and it will be the same this year. In 2024 I will turn 30, but I feel younger and more motivated than ever.”

Despite Leclerc appearing the favoured one at Ferrari, the battle between himself and Sainz has been a lot closer than many believe. Over three seasons and 66 Grand Prix the combined scoreline shows Leclerc on 673 points to Sainz 610.5. Yet during there race has been the more reliable with Leclerc at times pushing his car beyond the limits.

Hamilton switch: Ex-team boss demands real reasons

 

 

Sainz unlucky not beating Leclerc twice

Carlos was unlucky this time out in Abu Dhabi as his DNF meant he  dropped from P4 to P7 in the drivers championship. Had this not happened along with his undeserved penalties in Las Vegas Sainz for the second year in a row have finished again the much vaunted Charles Leclerc.

Leclerc has dominated qualifying yet his inconsistency during the races has seen Sainz easily make up the difference often found at the start of a race.

Carlos will be a prized asset for a number of teams and he knows his value has not yet peaked. “I am aware of what I am worth as a driver, and for that reason I am very calm when I look to the future. Good things will definitely come, but for now my goal remains to do my best with Ferrari.”

Should Carlos come out ahead of his team mate this year it will soften the blow from the contract he turned down with the Italian squad. Further his star could yet be in the ascendency as Mercedes, Aston Martin and even Red Bull Racing may come calling come the end of the year.

READ MORE: Christian Horner update as replacement emerges