Sainz recalls ‘strange’ negotiations with Ferrari

Mark Scott
Carlos Sainz Ferrari

Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz has said his negotiations with Ferrari felt “strange” but it has still been a “special” time for him in signing for the Scuderia.

After Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari announced they were going to go their separate ways, the Scuderia moved quickly to announce Sainz as his replacement on a two-year contract starting from next season.

Sainz will form Ferrari’s youngest-ever driver line-up alongside Charles Leclerc next year, yet he has found the whole situation strange as none of the talks have been able to take place in person as they usually would.

“They have been very special weeks,” Sainz recalled to Sky Sports in Italy.

“But to make a negotiation without ever seeing each other is a strange thing.

“I was at home with my father and in constant contact with my agent and in the end we managed quite well.”

Although Sainz is feeling the eagerness from Spanish fans to see him in Ferrari red, he knows that he has to switch focus back to McLaren for now.

He continued: “Everyone’s thinking about 2021, but now there’s McLaren.

“I have to thank McLaren and the whole team for what they have done for me, I can’t wait to see them in person to thank them.

“I feel like going back to Woking and start working again. I thought that after my announcement someone might be disappointed and instead I received many messages of affection and I want to repay all this on the track.

“I know that here in Spain they are already thinking about 2021 and to see me at the wheel of Ferrari fighting for podiums and victories.

“But now what I want to do is put the Ferrari in the drawer for the moment and think only of McLaren.”

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