“Have to Prepare in Advance”: Amid Rumors of Carlos Sainz’s Exit, Fred Vasseur Focuses on Ferrari Academy Prodigy

F1’s ‘smooth-operator’, Carlos Sainz, has had quite a year. Facing criticism at the start of 2023, he recently turned things around for himself. Little did anyone expect that Sainz may convincingly outperform Charles Leclerc the way he has done since the summer break. One would also think this turn of form may seal the Spaniard’s future with the Scuderia. However, Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has set the stage ablaze with his recent emphasis on nurturing emerging talent.

Vasseur’s strategy, shown by grooming Ferrari Academy’s young star Ollie Bearman, gives a peek into the team’s path. With rumors swirling about Sainz, this tantalizingly hints at the team’s direction & perhaps the doors opening for the man from Madrid.

Analyzing Ferrari’s youth plan amid the future for Carlos Sainz

Despite being the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race in 2023. Carlos Sainz’s future at Ferrari could be in danger. Formula 2 star Ollie Bearman recently completed his first F1 test at the Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit. Moreover, Fred Vasseur shed light on Ferrari’s meticulous plans for the future. This further raises uncertainties surrounding Sainz’s role in the team.

Vasseur said, “We have to prepare in advance. and that’s why we give him two FP1s this season with Haas and probably a lot more in 2024, we will prepare him for the future.” This indicates that Ferrari’s focus is on fostering emerging talent within their academy. Ollie Bearman’s recent dominance in F2 signals a shift in Ferrari towards securing a dynamic and competitive lineup for the seasons to come.

Even though Sainz has a contract with Ferrari until 2024, this news is certainly not music to his ears. He is currently ahead of Ferrari’s poster boy, Charles Leclerc, in driver’s standing. And by comparison, he is more efficient than his teammate. What more can Carlos do at Ferrari to justify his place?

With Ferrari now battling Mercedes and McLaren in a three-way fight in the constructors’ championship. Carlos Sainz has justified his place at Tifosi, despite the team’s usual mess-ups. But overlooking the short-term goals, Ferrari seems to be focused on the future.

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Future plans for Ferrari

With Ferrari being aware of how challenging it can be for rookies to settle into F1, they clearly have Ollie in mind for the 2025/2026 season. As Sainz’s contract expires in 2024, the upcoming season of Formula 1 can be quite thrilling. Considering that rumors regarding a switch to Audi for Carlos have been circulating.

Frederic Vasseur and Ferrari have a problematic task ahead, as they plan for the future. While Ferrari’s approach is somewhat understandable, it’s clear that Sainz has proven his worth. Moreover, he’s improved his performance and surpassed Charles in efficiency.

Even though Charles is the current face of Ferrari, his error-prone performances have not justified his status as the #1 Ferrari driver. It’ll be interesting to see how the Tifosi manage their driver situation in upcoming seasons. Regarding Ollie Bearman, he will probably transition to Haas or Alfa Romeo after the 2024 season. This seems the safest bet for Ferrari. It allows them to evaluate Ollie’s performance in F1 and carefully consider their decision. If the F2 prodigy shows promise, Carlos can switch to Audi as their top driver.

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Meanwhile, speculation about Carlos Sainz’s future persists. The implications for Ferrari’s youth planning and Sainz’s journey within the sport are compelling. This promises an enthralling chapter in F1’s dramatic narrative.