We’re still in the first month of the year, but the first domino of the 2024 silly season has already fallen. Ferrari has extended the services of their favourite championship contender Charles Leclerc beyond 2024 and reportedly for several years. The news is announced right before the Monegasque begins, what would’ve been his last contractual year. However, these conditions apply to Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz as well and we have not heard a peep about his contract extension.

The Spaniard is out of contract at the end of the upcoming season as well. He has won two races for Ferrari compared to Leclerc’s three since Sainz joined Ferrari. They’ve always been within reach in the overall standings since 2021. Moreover, with Sainz’s performance in the 2023 Singapore GP, the entire sport started valuing him more. So why the delay? More importantly, does this delay loosely translate to the team hierarchy with Leclerc coming out on top? Let’s debate!

Does the contract extension preference for Charles Leclerc mean Ferrari has chosen their No. 1 driver?

A debate about who the No.1 driver is often arises in teams with a powerful lineup. After the 2022 season, this became the topic of discussion in the Mercedes garage as well. However, after the previous season and Mercedes’ decision to announce the contract extension, news of both drivers simultaneously with the same length proved the parity in the team. Ferrari did the exact opposite.

There had always been a question of favoritism in the Italian team toward Leclerc. The Monegasque is already considered the favorite by the fans to end the championship drought. His 5-year long relationship with the team has surely played a part. The weight of expectations has always been on Leclerc’s shoulders. However, has he delivered or has he crumbled under pressure?

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Leclerc not only won a race in his first season with Ferrari, but he also won the Italian GP and, in the process, won the hearts of all Italian F1 fans, filling them with hopes of a new era. However, four years on and that era is yet to come. The Monegasuqe has since then managed just three more race wins despite securing 23 pole positions in the same time frame. The poor output is surely concerning.

Moreover, Leclerc, as we witnessed in the previous season, received preferential treatment during races with Sainz asked to hold back. The team boss would make you believe that wasn’t the case, with statements like, “We showed this season that we have more than equal treatment between the drivers,” with the example of the Singapore GP where Sainz secured pole position.

However, we believe Leclerc’s sacrifice could’ve been influenced by his antics in the Italian GP, where he never heard a peep from his team in favor of Carlos Sainz. This was made evident with Sainz Sr.’s comments pointing out, “It’s always my son who asks if he can attack.”

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Do you think is favoritism, or is this entire scenario being influenced by a name that isn’t even part of F1 yet? We’re, of course, talking about the Audi pre-contract rumors. Is this the cause behind Ferrari’s hesitation?

Are the rumors about Carlos Sainz’s pre-contract with Audi affecting his Ferrari future?

There have been rumors swirling around the paddock about Sainz singing a pre-contract with Audi for months now. The reputed German car manufacturer always delivers a competitive package in any and every motorsport they enter. Sainz Sr. is a perfect example with the 61-year-old recently winning the Dakar Rally driving an Audi.

Sainz Sr.’s relationship with Audi is also playing a part in this rumor mill. Sainz Sr. recently admitted he’s been talking to his son about Audi as an option in the future. With the Audi pre-contract being a widespread rumor, is it affecting Sainz’s future with Ferrari? Perhaps! However, there is only one flaw in that assessment and it’s all to do with Carlos Sainz’s preference.

His Ferrari contract runs out in 2024 and Sauber becomes Audi in 2026. So ideally, a year-long contract with Ferrari should be a perfect solution for Sainz’s F1 future uncertainty. If that is the case, then explain Sainz’s comments about his contract desires with the Italian outfit.

He said, “I want to renew and I like to do it for more than a year and that is my intention and I feel very valued by Fred and Ferrari, I feel loved and I will renew if I continue to feel that way. They know what I’ve been capable of for three years, my qualities.”

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So not the Audi pre-contract rumors. We believe it’s the length of the contract that is the decisive factor in Sainz’s contract extension talks. We don’t know what stage Sainz’s contract extension talks are at or if there is even a dialogue. We do believe Leclerc’s contract extension announcement, while there is no update on Sainz’s future, does not highlight the team hierarchy.

We think it will be based on the performances, as Ferrari will back anyone who can lead them to glory at this point. They might prefer it to be Leclerc but you can’t always have what you want.

Editorial Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of EssentiallySports.