Although Ferrari wanted to have the future of both drivers clarified before the final year of their contract, Frederic Vasseur is not worried – equal opportunity for both
Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur is taking a relaxed approach to the new 2024 Formula 1 season, even though the future of both drivers is uncertain beyond next year. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are only tied to the Scuderia for 2024, when their contracts expire
Vasseur actually wanted to have clarified the future of his two drivers by this point. He had said this after taking office a year ago. “We’re a bit late in terms of the original timetable,” he admits, “but it’s not a problem at all.”
After all, Ferrari and the two drivers still have 13 months together ahead of them. “That’s pretty comfortable,” emphasizes Vasseur, referring to Mercedes, who only extended the expiring contracts of their two drivers at the end of August. “That means we still have many weeks and months ahead of us,” he waves his hand.
“I said a year ago that I would try to make a decision before the end of the year,” Vasseur continues. “I have to admit that the last part of the season was a big mess for everyone. It was very demanding,” he explains the delays. But: “We had meetings and there were initial discussions.”
“We are still well ahead of Mercedes and are not worried that we will make a decision soon,” he clarifies.
It is questionable whether both drivers will remain on board beyond 2024. Charles Leclerc is actually considered to be the long-term future of the Italians, but after repeated setbacks, a change has also been brought into play recently. Carlos Sainz is also rumored to be moving, with Audi in particular being mentioned as a possible new employer in recent months
Vasseur: Treat drivers “more than equally “
2024 But for now, both are entering their last season with Ferrari. Vasseur emphasizes that they should once again do so on an equal footing. Ferrari has no number 1 and no number 2, he says when asked whether both drivers would also receive the same conditions in the event of possible contract extensions.
“We have shown this season that we treat both drivers more than equally,” Vasseur clarifies. “A year ago, I had a lot of questions about Charles being number 1 and Carlos being number 2 and blah blah blah…”, he continues.
However, Singapore in particular showed that both drivers play their part. There, Leclerc had agreed to start on soft tires in order to overtake and hold off George Russell so that team-mate Sainz could pull out a lead at the front.
“And when we asked Charles to slow Russell down, he did so. That shows that they both did a very good job,” emphasized Vasseur. In the end, the calculation worked out and Ferrari took the only win of the season with Sainz – and the only victory that was not won by Red Bull in 2023.
Ferrari wants two strong drivers
“We have two drivers who are doing a good job. Carlos was more than strong after the summer break. He had a great series of races with Monza, Singapore and so on,” emphasizes the team boss, who also sees the Spaniard as part of Leclerc’s good results at the end of the season.
In the end, both drivers were almost level in the overall standings. It was only in the season finale in Abu Dhabi that Leclerc was able to overtake Sainz and decide the internal race by six points – even though the qualifying (15:7) and race duels (12:10) went to the Monegasque in some cases, which is fair to say
2024 but both will get the same chance again: “We will continue in this direction,” says Vasseur. Strategically, both drivers will also be given the same freedom and approaches.
He says: “I don’t want to have just one good driver and a second who is not so good. We have two cars and two drivers. “