Fred Vasseur says Ferrari and Carlos Sainz are "fully aligned" on the timeline to discuss the Spaniard's future with the Scuderia, with both team and driver seeking clarity ahead of the start of the 2024 season.
Sainz in contracted to Ferrari until the end of 2024, but the 28-year-old expressed earlier this summer his desire to head into next season with a clear understanding – one way or the other – of his future with the Italian outfit.
Rumors have emerged that Sainz has been shortlisted by Audi as a potential candidate for its works effort in F1. But the German manufacturer – which is still in the process of acquiring a majority stake in Sauber – won't join the grid until 2026.
Speaking to selected members of the media ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, Vasseur said that Ferrari and Sainz are on the same page when it comes to staring next year's campaign with "a clear situation" for both parties.
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"With Carlos, we are fully aligned," said Vasseur. "We have time to discuss. There are still 18 months of contract in front of us.
"We both want to start next season with a clear situation in that we have to take action and a decision before the end of this season, and we still have another 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."
Like Sainz, Charles Leclerc's current contract with the Scuderia will also conclude at the end of the 2024 season.
But the Monegasque has indicated that he hopes to remain a resident of the House of Maranello in 2025.
"I have a huge love of Ferrari. And my first target and my first dream is to become a world champion with Ferrari, more than anything else," he recently said.
"So, if there's a slight opportunity for it to happen, I will have no doubt about pushing to stay here at least."
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