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Vasseur not concerned with Hamilton’s situation: 'Discussion is with Toto'
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are fixed at Ferrari until the end of 2024 and so the big question is what the line-up will look like the year after. Previously, Frederic Vasseur has indicated that a contract extension for the two drivers would only be discussed at a later date and the team boss does so again now. Moreover, he addresses the possible availability of Lewis Hamilton, who still did not sign a new contract with Mercedes.
That Ferrari wants to continue with Leclerc is an open secret. Vasseur already worked with the Monegasque at an earlier stage and within the Maranello-based stable everyone is thick with the speed he shows. There are some more doubts about a Sainz contract extension. Does Ferrari want to offer him a new commitment and is Sainz happy with his current employer. Indeed, it sometimes seems that Leclerc has an edge within the team.
Sainz
It has therefore been unsettled around Sainz in recent months. According to several rumours, the Spaniard is said to be unhappy at Ferrari and may have signed a pre-contract to race for Audi from 2026. All this Sainz himself denies and Frederic Vasseur also does not give the impression that the two parties are on a collision course.
"I think that with Carlos, we are fully aligned," Vasseur tells GPblog and others when asked if he will sit down with the 28-year-old Spaniard this winter for a new contract. "We had this question a lot of times and we always get the same reply. That we have time to discuss, that we still have 18 months of contract in front of us. We both want to start the next season with a clear situation."
"It means that we have to take action and make a decision before the end of this season. And we still have four or five months in front of us to decide. But we are fully, fully aligned on this point with Carlos and his management. And we will have the discussion soon."
Leclerc has already been on the podium three times in 2023, Sainz yet. In the world championship, the latter is two spots below his teammate, with seven points less. So in the World Championship, Sainz is not doing that much worse at all, but what will Ferrari do if an outside opportunity comes along? Capturing Lewis Hamilton, for example.
Hamilton
Negotiations have been taking place between Ferrari and Mercedes for months now, but a new deal has not yet materialised. The Ferrari president is said to have personally thrown out a line to Mercedes to possibly buy the deal. Hamilton has reportedly given the Italians zero response(for now).
Is Ferrari interested in Hamilton? "I think it's the same situation with Lewis, that it was the last ten years that they are in discussion, and I don't know what is the issue, if there is an issue or not. Honestly, I'm not focused at all on this, I'm focused on the development of the team, and the discussion is between Lewis and Toto and not myself," Vasseur said.