By James Broughton, April 15, 2024
You can’t help but feel sorry for Carlos Sainz; he began the 2024 season with Ferrari without a contract but was confident he would secure an extension. However, it seems Ferrari postponed negotiations with Sainz while finalizing the details for welcoming Lewis Hamilton to the team in 2025. The news came as a complete surprise to the F1 world and left Carlos Sainz somewhat stunned and bewildered.
Sainz has performed brilliantly for Ferrari, winning two races for the team in an era dominated by Red Bull. Although teammate Charles Leclerc is theoretically the faster driver, on average, the two are evenly matched. However, Leclerc’s superior single-lap pace gives him an edge.
This season, Sainz has been more than a match for Leclerc, returning after appendicitis surgery to win in Australia. Sainz has consistently outperformed Leclerc, who is struggling to find form.
Despite his achievements, Sainz finds himself without a contract. Rumors suggest he could sign a lucrative multi-year deal with Audi F1. However, this move effectively signals the end of his career, as the Audi F1 project is expected to be lengthy and challenging.
In modern F1, very few newly established teams achieve instant success due to the complexity of technology and adherence to regulations. Mercedes is interested, but reportedly only offering Sainz a one-year rolling contract, while Sainz is pushing for two.
Sainz has proven himself as a race winner with consistency, yet, he appears to be unloved and unwanted by F1. How did he become the “Little Donkey” of the F1 world? It doesn’t make sense, but this is the state of F1—it is what it is.
