The summer break has just begun but rumors and speculation about teams’ changing their driver line ups have already started spreading.
The first news comes from Maranello. Already in the last few weeks there have been numerous questions regarding the future of the Ferrari drivers. There has been a lot of talk, for example, about a possible interest of Mercedes in Leclerc. But the speculations were immediately denied by those directly involved.
The big news sees once again Leclerc as the protagonist. According to Italian website Formula Uno Analisi Tecnica, the Monegasque has recently signed the renewal with Ferrari. This would be a 2+3 contract that can be exercised at the end of the current one that expires at the end of 2024.
Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari
Leclerc is very attached to the Maranello team and has every intention of continuing to work and win with them, has been made very clear and shown on several occasions by the driver himself in interviews. Despite this, there have not yet been official confirmations from the Scuderia or Leclerc himself regarding the contract. Nonetheless, could it happen next month at the Italian Grand Prix.
On the other hand, Carlos Sainz seems to be in a different position. His Ferrari future seems a lot less clear. The Spanish driver has asked for the same conditions as his teammate but in this case the negotiation seems to be still ongoing.
This leaves room for other possibilities: among the possible teams that seem to have shown interest in Sainz, the name of Alpine emerges. The team’s current line up is formed by Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, but that could be questioned by the hypothetical arrival of the Ferrari driver.
Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari
An air of change is already spreading at the Enstone-based team. During the weekend of the Belgian GP, it was announced that Otmar Szafnauer left them by mutual consent. The possibility his replacement will be Mattia Binotto, former team principal and Ferrari engineer, has just opened.
Binotto is a big fan of Sainz, and he will surely look to poach him if he joins Alpine.
