F1: Official Sainz joins Ferrari for 2021; Ricciardo to McLaren

Carlos Sainz will replace Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari for the 2021 Formula 1 Season on a two year deal.

It was confirmed on Tuesday that Vettel would leave the team and Ferrari announced that Sainz would partner Charles Leclerc next season

Sainz said: “I am very happy that I will be driving for Scuderia Ferrari in 2021 and I’m excited about my future with the team.

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto added: “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.

Leclerc-Sainz is Ferrari’s youngest line-up for 50 years.

Sainz made his F1 debut in 2015 before a sudden rise in the last few years. He joined Renault for the final four races of the 2017 season and spent 12 months with the team until he signed for McLaren for 2019.

He proved to be the best of the rest last season as he finished sixth in the drivers’ standings and scored his first career podium at the Brazilian Grand Prix.