Ferrari has confirmed that Carlos Sainz Jr. will replace Sebastian Vettel at the team for the 2021 Formula 1 season after signing a two-year deal with the 25-year-old.
Vettel has raced for Ferrari since 2015 but on Tuesday it was announced that their relationship will come to an end following the conclusion of the yet-to-begin 2020 campaign.
Sainz Jr. quickly emerged as the front-runner for the vacancy and Ferrari has now duly confirmed that the Spaniard will join Charles Leclerc in 2021.
Sainz Jr. made his Formula 1 debut in 2015 and has raced for Toro Rosso, Renault and McLaren, finishing sixth in last year’s championship.
McLaren had an option on Sainz Jr. for 2021, under the terms of his agreement, but it has relinquished that in order to allow him to move to Ferrari.
He has been replaced at McLaren by current Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo, with Lando Norris retained for another season.
“I’m pleased to announce that Carlos will join Scuderia Ferrari as from the 2021 championship,” said Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto.
“With five seasons already behind him, Carlos has proved to be very talented and has shown that he has the technical ability and the right attributes to make him an ideal fit with our family.
“We’ve embarked on a new cycle with the aim of getting back to the top in Formula 1.
“It will be a long journey, not without its difficulties, especially given the current financial and regulatory situation, which is undergoing a sudden change and will require this challenge to be tackled in a different way to the recent past.
“We believe that a driver pairing with the talent and personality of Charles and Carlos, the youngest in the past 50 years of the Scuderia, will be the best possible combination to help us reach the goals we have set ourselves.”
Added Sainz Jr.: “I am very happy that I will be driving for Scuderia Ferrari in 2021 and I’m excited about my future with the team.
“I still have an important year ahead with McLaren Racing and I’m really looking forward to going racing again with them this season.”
