Carlos Sainz, Ferrari Agree to Two-Year Contract Extension
IMAGO / ZUMA Wire
Formula One may just be a few races into the 2022 schedule, but teams have been and continue to discuss the futures of their respective star drivers, with the latest being Carlos Sainz.
Ferrari has been red hot this season between the duo of Sainz and Charles Leclerc, but the Spaniard’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season. On Thursday, Ferrari announced that it is extending his contract to the end of 2024.
Sainz is currently in the second year of his contract with Ferrari, and had interest in looking elsewhere. Mattia Binotto revealed at the beginning of the year that the two camps were close to making the deal.
“I think we found an agreement,” the team boss previously said, per ESPN. “It's only a matter to translate it into paper.”
Sainz agreed when asked near the end of March, saying, “I think we are close. Very close. Very, very close. Very close. Extremely close. Nearly there.”
Sainz joined Ferrari last season, replacing Sebastian Vettel on a two-year contract. Since then, he claimed podium finishes in Monaco, Hungary, Russia and Abu Dhabi in 2021. During the ’22 campaign, Sainz podiumed in the first two races but spun out at the Australian Grand Prix.
Other drivers on the grid secured long-term contracts leading up to the season: Lando Norris is staying with McLaren through 2025 and Max Verstappen closed a mega deal where he will be with Red Bull through 2028.
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