Asked how close a new contract was after helping Ferrari to secure a one-two finish at the B𓄧ahrain Grand Prix, Sainz replied: “I think we are close. Very close. Very, very close. Extremely close. Nearly there.”

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto confirmed the deal has alre🎀ady been verbally agreed. 

“I think we found an agreement,” he added. “It’s only a matter to transꦫlate it into paper.”

Sainz joined Ferrari from McLaren for the 2021 season on a two-year co꧟ntract, which is due to expire at the end of the current campaign. 

Talks over an exte💫nsion for Sainz have been taking place throughout the winter and ♌it now appears ready to be formally signed off. 

The Spaniard took second place behind teammate Ch🐼arles Leclerc in the season-opener in Bahrain, scoring his fifth podium finish for🃏 Ferrari. 

Sainz, who finished ahead of♔ Leclerc in the championship during his first season at the✨ Maranello-based team, admitted he had a difficult weekend in Bahrain.  

“For me it’s been a very tricky weeke🃏nd, I'm not going to lie,” ☂Sainz said after Sunday’s race. 

“I didn't have the pace today𒁏. But I managed to hold in there and bring the one-two for the team. 

🍌"I have some homework to do over these next few days and I'm sure I will come back stronger.”

But Sainz was delighted by Ferrari’s resurgent start t🎐o F1’s new era and declared the Italian outfit is “properly back” and ready to challenge for world titles again. 

“I'm particularly happy for the whole team,” he💙 said. 

“It's massive, you know, after two difficult years to be back and be on a one-two, it shows that all the hard work has just paid off and that we🌸 are back in the fight, back to where Ferrari should be.

“Congratulation𒁃s to Charles because I think he drove a really good race. And he's been on it the whole weekend. 

“So to bring home this one-two means a lot to all of us andꩲ to all the tifosi and for sure today, we need to celebrate because it’s a huge day.”