Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto will speak with Carlos Sainz about his future with the team over the winter break after an impressive debut season.
Ferrari signed Sainz from McLaren following the departure of Sebastian Vettel at the end of last year, and the 27-year-old scored points on 20 occasions, picking up four podiums en route to the fifth-placed championship finish.
Binotto has been left thoroughly impressed with Sainz, and is eager to discuss his long-term future with the Scuderia.
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“I think Carlos did a great year. When we signed a year ago, we said that winter time, so this is winter time, [is] the right moment to sit down and have a review of the season. That is something we will certainly do during the winter,” Binotto said.
Continuing, he said he would like to review Sainz’s first season as part of the team, before focusing on future plans.
“There will be certainly a review altogether, and of the season itself, and we’ll start discussing what can be our future.
“When we signed with Carlos, the objective was to have two good drivers that were good racers, consistent and capable of scoring points for the team,” Binotto detailed.
“I think it’s what we got this season. I’m very proud of both of them. I think as I often said, we’ve got the best line-up in Formula 1, and I’m pretty happy with what Carlos did this season.”
The Ferrari team boss admitted that he was not completely sure what to expect from the Spaniard’s first year in red, but is satisfied with his progress.
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“Being his very first season with Ferrari, it was not straightforward and obvious. We signed with him because we said he is a good racer, consistent, always scoring good points. But I think he’s as well a good learner.
“During the season, he has improved, and I think that the end of the season is his best part of the entire season.”
Sainz will enter his eighth season in F1 in 2022, and his second with Ferrari.
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