Sainz reveals new Ferrari deal "very close"

Carlos Sainz has declared himself "very close" to signing a new contract with Ferrari after entering into the final year of his initial two-season deal.

Sainz joined Ferrari from McLaren ahead of the 2021 campaign, replacing four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel alongside Charles Leclerc.

The Spaniard ended a superb maiden year with the Scuderia as the best of the rest behind the Mercedes and Red Bull pairings, finishing ahead of Leclerc by 5.5 points.

That resulted in team principal Mattia Binotto declaring at the end of last season his intent over the winter to tie Sainz down to a longer contract.

But two races into the new campaign, Sainz has yet to put pen to paper. Asked as to how negotiations on a new deal are progressing, he explained: “We’re getting there.

"Obviously, it is an important contract in my career. I really wanted to make sure that everything was done and both Ferrari and I were happy with what we are signing and we are very close to finalising it.

“It still needs the last details but it looks good for the future.”

Sainz finished the Bahrain Grand Prix second to team-mate Leclerc but struggled to match his team-mate across the season-opening weekend.

Speaking after that race, Binotto said of Sainz's potential there was "an agreement" in place and that it was "only a matter of translating it onto paper".