Ferrari driver contracts still pending

Ferrari has not yet extended its two drivers. The Italian team and the two athletes are currently linked until the end of the 2024 season. Before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2023, Charles Leclerc once again affirmed his love for Ferrari and his desire to extend with the reds. If Carlos Sainz is more evasive, no statement has created any doubt. The trend among the two athletes seems to be a willingness to continue.

However, at the dawn of the 2024 season, no driver has yet extended their contract. Frederic Vasseur, the director of Ferrari, estimated that the team wasn’t (m) in a rush ». Currently, 12 drivers will be at the end of their contract in 2024. Nevertheless, according to Italian media, Charles Leclerc would have extended with Ferrari for an additional five years. Carlos Sainz would still be in the dark.

Ferrari bides its time

During the 2023 season, Frederic Vasseur had declared his wish to extend his two drivers before the end of 2023. However, the French team director now calls for calm, using the example of Lewis Hamilton who extended six months before the end of his contract with Mercedes.

« We are not in a hurry to extend the contracts but have started discussions », Frederic Vasseur wanted to reassure. « Mercedes did it in August. We are not at all in a hurry. This season, I expected to do it before the end of the year. But the season was huge and we started the discussion. But, once again, we are not in a hurry. »

An encouraging end to 2023

Throughout the 2023 season, Ferrari experienced a roller-coaster season. After a very difficult start of the year, the Maranello team finished on a high note. In September, through Carlos Sainz, the Italian garage became the only team, outside of Red Bull, to win a Grand Prix in 2023. In the last races, Ferrari also achieved several poles and secured two 2nd places in the last two races. Highly encouraging progress for the next season. A context which led Frederic Vasseur to estimate that Ferrari « should not be afraid to take risks after making a huge step forward in the second part of the year. »

The Frenchman explained that it was necessary to maintain humility, despite the observed progress. « I am always worried because it’s my job! », he testified. « Even if you are only focused on yourself, it’s important not to be arrogant, said Vasseur. I’ve been doing this job for six years and it’s always a good lesson in humility because you can do well one Sunday, then the next Sunday, you are nowhere. We just need to improve everywhere and that’s the most important message. It’s not that Red Bull has a magic wand that puts them four tenths ahead. They are probably better than us with 10 things worth four hundredths. We need to take small steps everywhere and preserve this mentality. »

Ferrari ended the season in third place, right behind Mercedes.