As the holiday season finally approaches, Carlos Sainz has one wish: to continue his racing journey with Ferrari well beyond his current contract. During a recent Christmas lunch with journalists at Fiorano, new Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur expressed his basic desire to retain both Charles Leclerc and Sainz post-2024. However, while Leclerc is rumored to be in line for a lucrative and long new deal, talks around Sainz’s future seem less certain.
Addressing the media, Vasseur said, “I would have liked to make the decision before the end of the year, but I must admit that the last third of the season has been a bit chaotic, very demanding. We have had meetings and we have started talking but we are late with respect to the initial plan. We will take it slow and make a decision soon.”
Interestingly, Vasseur didn’t shut down the idea of potentially signing Max Verstappen in the future, sarcastically quipping about Verstappen’s contract “I think until 2045” – where in reality it runs to the end of 2028. He also shared his frequent communications with Lewis Hamilton, humorously noting: “If he signed a contract with me every time we spoke, it would cost me a fortune.”
Sainz, meanwhile, remains determined and optimistic about his future in red. Speaking to DAZN, he expressed, “I am in the best place on the grid to be champion, without a doubt. I am so happy at Ferrari and so happy to be part of this team that, at the moment, I don’t see an expiration date. I have, I hope, many years ahead of me and I wouldn’t mind counting all of them in red. In 2024 I ask for a car to win, but if we win or not, then let it be what God wants.”
The 29-year-old also commented on his performance compared to teammate Leclerc, stating that he is “usually within a half a tenth” of Leclerc every time they hit the track. He praised Leclerc’s abilities and emphasized their strong partnership. “I think we make a very good couple,” Sainz said.
He concluded, “I think we are also two drivers who get along very well, but for the team, I think they are most interested in having two drivers who push each other. I think we have a healthy competition between us, but we always prioritize the team. I try to bite when I have to bite and I try to control myself when I have to control myself.”
