Carlos Sainz insists he is more committed than ever to Ferrari amid speculation the Formula One star is yet to open contract talks with the team.

The Spaniard is enjoying a good season, notably being the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race in 2023, claiming a memorable victory in Singapore in September.

Ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, Sainz is fifth in the standings and will be aiming to hold off teammate Charles Leclerc, who is just 15 points behind, over the final six races.

Of course, fighting for fifth is not where the 29-year-old wants to be, with no one on the grid able to match the sheer speed of Red Bull and Max Verstappen this year.

After looking like title contenders early last season, Ferrari have taken a backwards step in 2023, leading to suggestions that Sainz and Leclerc could look to leave the Scuderia when their contracts expire at the end of 2024.

Sainz has previously admitted that talks over extending his deal are yet to begin, yet has also stated that he would prefer to secure his spot on the grid, wherever that may be, far in advance.

He has been consistently been linked with the upcoming Audi Sauber project, which will officially debut in 2026, but on Thursday the two-time race winner said he only has eyes for the Scuderia.

‘There has never been a doubt. I am very comfortable with Ferrari, I want be here for the medium to long-term,’ he told Sky Sports.

‘There has been high confidence between each party. The wins and podiums – the only thing they do is reassure everything that we already knew.

‘I hope that the winter is a good opportunity to find an agreement and continue working in the future because it’s the place that I love driving for and I see myself driving [for them] and winning a world championship soon.

‘We are constantly working on the capacity to win, to get better, to get to the level of Red Bull or even higher because that’s what we’ll need if we want to win a world championship again.

‘I think we have the work ethic the mentality to get there.’

It’s been 16 years since a Ferrari driver last won the F1 title, that being Kimi Raikkonen, while Verstappen is all but set to win his third consecutive drivers’ championship in Qatar.

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