Three drivers who may be affected by Carlos Sainz' new contract

Carlos Sainz’ contract extension at Ferrari is a well-deserved reward for the Spaniard. Sainz provided his team with a number of consistent performances in 2021, earning himself a career-best fifth in the overall drivers’ standings. With Charles Leclerc seemingly locked in at the Scuderia, the second seat has been a hot topic amongst fans, with some suggesting that Ferrari will look to introduce younger, fresher talent into the team.

With Sainz’ contract now running until the end of the 2024 season, we take a look at some of the drivers this decision will affect.

Mick Schumacher

Failing to score points in your first 24 races in Formula 1 is highly likely to see your place in the sport come under fire. But for Mick Schumacher, people are eager to see him move up the grid in the not-too-distant future. Although Schumacher’s debut year at Haas was lacklustre for the American team, the young German driver still showcased his natural talent, reaching Q2 on a number of occasions. Rumours of a race seat at Ferrari are nothing knew for Schumacher, with some fans hoping he can emulate the career of his legendary father, Michael.

Sainz’ extended stay in the second seat means that Mick will be forced to look elsewhere for his next race seat. Schumacher’s contract expires at the end of the current season, meaning he may take part in the ‘silly season’ of transfers. There is no question that Haas will be keen to keep him, after forming a solid partnership with the returning Kevin Magnussen. With seats in the midfield looking increasingly unlikely to open up, Schumacher may need to stay with Haas to keep any hope of racing next season alive.

Robert Schwartzman

With Schumacher and Oscar Piastri both winning their Formula 2 titles at Prema Racing, Robert Schwartzman rarely took the spotlight off his teammates. The Russian driver finished fourth in 2020, followed by a second placed finish in 2021, achieving six race victories in the process. Schwartzman is not competing in what is a highly competitive field in this year’s F2, instead taking on the role of test and reserve driver for Ferrari.

With the F1 grid bursting with talent, places very rarely come up for grabs. In Schwartzman’s case, this is no different, with no clear pathway into the sport looking viable. A move to Ferrari for Schumacher would have been perfect for Schwartzman, who completed laps for Haas in the 2021 end of season testing session in Abu Dhabi. The Russian would’ve hoped to jump straight into a Haas seat that had been vacated by his former teammate. Instead, Schwartzman may have look elsewhere, looking to try another form of motorsport before making his entry into Formula 1.

Callum Ilott

Great Britain has already provided the F1 grid with three of its most talented drivers in Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Lando Norris. Callum Ilott has previously competed in free practise sessions for Alfa Romeo, but is yet to receive the call up to race for the team on a full-time basis. Despite a double driver change at the Italian outfit in 2022, Ilott missed the cut and will fill the role of test driver once more, with Guanyu Zhou and Valtteri Bottas leading the team on-track.

Ilott has spent many years in Ferrari’s driver academy, hoping to make the step up into the pinnacle of motorsport. Sainz’ new contract means that the driver market is less likely to see any movement this year, keeping Ilott at arms-length of the grid. Barring a disastrous year, Alfa Romeo are unlikely to change either driver this season, with their driver pairing providing a balance of race-winning experience and youthful determination. A spot on the IndyCar grid has kept the Briton busy while he awaits his opportunity, but time may be running out before a new prospect takes Ilott’s place.