One of the intriguing sagas in the Formula 1 driver scene may be heading towards its conclusion. According to information from journalist Leo Turrini, from Sky Sports Italy, Ferrari is about to make official the extension of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz’s contracts beyond 2024. The F1 driver market for the 2025 season is seen as a one of the most fervent in recent years, given the termination of the contracts of several competitors at the end of the next season.
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In a scenario in which drivers would be free to explore new opportunities, the Ferrari duo emerged as one of the most sought after, having their names associated with other teams in recent months. While Leclerc was the target of speculation involving Aston Martin, Sainz had his name linked to Audi, currently Alfa Romeo, but which will return to the Sauber name in 2024 and 2025, before the German manufacturer’s entry in 2026.
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However, as Turrini reports, Ferrari was quick to ensure the continuity of its duo beyond 2024, when their contracts would expire. The journalist claims that there will soon be an official announcement, confirming that Leclerc and Sainz will continue to represent Ferrari beyond 2024, with the aim of chasing the F1 title wearing the Italian team’s characteristic red.
Although the two drivers recently publicly expressed their desire to remain at Ferrari, the Italian team maintained that negotiations for new contracts would only begin after the end of the current season. This marks the third year of the current Ferrari lineup. After a period of reconstruction in 2021, the Italian team started 2022 as the main contender in the new era of the category, but was soon overtaken by Red Bull, who won the titles with relative ease. In 2023, while Red Bull consolidated and expanded its dominance, Ferrari had a difficult start to the season, positioning itself as the fourth force on the grid. With Aston Martin’s decline, the team rose to third place in the World Championship and now faces the final stage in Abu Dhabi in the race for runner-up, being just four points behind Mercedes.