In the past year, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari’s main driver, had a mix of successes and challenges in his career. While he achieved a notable victory at the Singapore GP in the absence of Max Verstappen, it was his only triumph for the season.
With the conclusion of the 2023 season, Sainz now finds himself at a crossroads in his career, facing a major dilemma as Ferrari appears unwilling to entertain his contract extension requests any further.
Carlos Sainz Jr.’s Ferrari contract talk ‘stalled’ over key difference
Carlos Sainz and the Italian team have been in a prolonged disagreement since last winter. Sainz has insisted on his demands for a long-term contract extension to secure his career’s future. However, Ferrari remains adamant about convincing Sainz to agree to a short-term contract. This disagreement has strained their off-grid relationship unnecessarily.
Throughout his Formula 1 career, Sainz has secured two major victories and five pole positions, a performance that doesn’t seem to fully satisfy Ferrari.
Given his average performance, the team has opted for a short-term extension contract to prevent potential declines in future performance. In contrast, Charles Leclerc’s impressive five race victories and consistent challenges against Max Verstappen have earned him praise from F1 experts.
Berbeda dengan rekan satu timnya, kontrak Carlos Sainz dikabarkan “mandek” bersama Ferrari.
— The Grid Indonesia (@TheGrid_ID) January 27, 2024
Sainz mengiinkan perpanjangan kontrak berdurasi 2 tahun, sementara Ferrari hanya ingin 1 tahun saja sampai 2025.
Kabarnya juga, Ferrari tidak memberikan kenaikan gaji kepada Sainz. pic.twitter.com/niKPXiUryl
Recently, the team signed a multi-year extension with Leclerc, which has infuriated Sainz even more, further affecting their relationship. While it remains uncertain whether Carlos will be driving for Ferrari this season, there is still a high probability of him changing his decision at the last moment.
Carlos Sainz Jr.’s rumoured contingency plan
While Ferrari has consistently declined Sainz’s offer, Audi, on the other hand, is willing to accept the offer wholeheartedly. The 29-year-old has made it clear that Ferrari is not his only option, as he has a close relationship with Audi’s Chief Executive, Andreas Seidl.
my homies and i at the carlos sainz and audi signing party pic.twitter.com/2I8uBS0GDA https://t.co/08pFjdrfpe
— alex albon’s pr manager (@piastrify) January 22, 2024
According to reports, Audi has offered Sainz a multi-year extension deal, which he has not yet declined. Considering his reluctance to reject the offer, many are speculating that the Spanish driver will either move to Audi for the next few years or have a second backup plan, which he has not yet revealed.
Do you think Carlos Sainz will be transferring to any other team this season? Let us know in the comment section below.
