Sainz's Surprising Pre-Agreement: Could Audi Be His Next Destination?
Aug.7 - Charles Leclerc looks set to stay at Ferrari beyond his 2024 contract - but there is an even bigger question mark over the future of his teammate.
Russian F1 commentator Alexey Popov said on his podcast that he has heard multiple reports from Italy that Leclerc has agreed to extend his stay.
The reports suggest Leclerc has signed a new two-year deal for 2025 and 2026 with a further option for three additional years - worth a total of about EUR 185 million.
"Where else should he go?" Popov wonders. "There are no available places in teams where he can become champion.
"We know from history that there are stories like Brawn GP, but it is almost impossible to calculate this in advance. So in Leclerc's place, it's better to stay at Ferrari and hope that the wind changes direction there."
At the same time, there are rumours that Leclerc's current teammate Carlos Sainz has actually signed some sort of pre-agreement with Audi - the VW-owned marque that is teaming up with Sauber for 2026 and beyond.
Meanwhile, the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf - close to the Max Verstappen camp - claims that Red Bull may be shaping up to trigger a clause in Sergio Perez's contract to reduce his pay from 2024.
The clause may hinge on Perez's huge 125-point deficit to Verstappen at the mid-point of the season.
Those rumours come as a Mexican businessman close to the Perez camp questioned whether the 33-year-old is enjoying equal treatment to Max at Red Bull.
"I have no doubt that Max Verstappen is the best driver on the grid," said Elias Ayub, CEO of the Telmex Foundation and married to the daughter of Perez's chief Mexican sponsor Carlos Slim.
"But that Max is more than 20 seconds ahead of Checo in P2 can only be because Verstappen's car is much faster than the other car," Ayub is quoted by Marca Mexico.
"That much of a difference cannot be the driver alone," he insisted.
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Exceptional talent always shines through
Poor workmen always blames his tools
True.
But it's also true that a good workman knows when his tools are sub-par...
Good workmen being : (I could name, say 10 from the current crop besides Max, who could be front runners given the best car.
True driver standings are, and will always remain a thought exercise but Sainz would miss my cut
Perez should gently remind everyone, that comments like that are not helpful. Perez is a very good driver, not a great driver. He has never been consistent and when he starts making mistakes, especially rookie ones,, like Monaco, he loses self-confidence and his driving reflects his inconsistencies. Perez is not on par with Verstapoen and never will, insiinuating that his car is not the same, makes the remarks uncalled for and not helpful to his diminishing cause.
I doubt he would've signed any pre-contract at this point in time.
As for Checo, perhaps finishing more than 20 seconds behind on merit isn't about the driver alone but at least mostly yes & so what if he gets a pay cut, given how well he's earned over his time racing in F1 since 2011.
In this case it is the driver. Not just the pace of the driver instantaneously but the ability of the driver to set up the car so the balance is ideal for him. While Sergio has access to the same car set-up as Max it is not likely that he can take advantage of it the way that Max does. Note from the radio communications between Max and his engineer, even when ha has a substantial lead, he is always evaluating and trying different configurations to maximize over all performance, which means going as fast as possible without overstressing either the car or the tires. He gets better and better at this with every race. He has the capability to feel the balance of the car like Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart could. It is a very rare talent to almost feel the car, which obviously Max can. I don't think that anyone could consistently do better than Sergio in the RB. As Marko has stated perhaps Alonso or Hamilton could give Max a better run in an RB on a good day for them but they would not likely beat Max.
Great explanation. Verstappen is in a league of his own. Exceptional drivers only come a long every so often and I am happy that I have had the opportunity to see Max go from a raw talent to a finely tuned driver who is one with his car. The races are not boring just the opposite, it is amazing how is is able to fine tune his every race, not just the physical aspect but the mental one as well.
What a load of hogwash. Do the sort of people that write confidential contracts leak them to get internet nobodies excited?
He could sue saying they are knobbling his car and defaming his skills.
He's not paid that much so I doubt this is an issue.
summer holiday and panicky idiots need content...
Of course we expect that Elias Ayub will be patriotic and come to the defence of Perez. However, the reality is that Max is in a league of his own, head and shoulders above Checo!
I am confident that if Max swapped cars with Checo, there will be little difference in the results.