Carlos Sainz says being unable to negotiate his Ferrari Formula 1 contract face to face was a “strang﷽e” experience. 

Sainz was announced as Sebastian Vettel’s succ🌠essor at Ferrari last week, with the Spaniard signing a two-year deal to join the Scude👍ria from McLaren in 2021. Four-time world champion Vettel will leave the team upon the expiry of his current contract at the end of the year. 

Duꦆe to the ongoi♛ng COVID-19 pandemic, discussions between Sainz and Ferrari were carried out contact-free via video calls or over the phone.

"It has been a very special week, negotiating without ever seeing each other is a st🔯range thing,” Sainz told Sky Italia.

“I was at home with my fওather and in constant contact with my agent and in the en♚d we did quite well.”

Sainz also paid thanks to 🐬McLaren and insisted his full focus remains on the upcoming 2020 season, which will mark his s💎econd and final year with the Woking outfit before he switches to Maranello. 

"If Ferrari's offer has arrived I ha▨ve to thank McLaren and the whole team for what they have done for me, now I look fo🍨rward to seeing them in person to thank them,” he said.

"I ♐want to go back to Woking and start working again. I thought that after my announcement someone could get sick and instead I received many messages of affection and esteem.

“🙈I want to repay everything and I know that here in Spain they are already thinking about 2021 to see me behind the 🅰wheel of Ferrari fighting for podiums and victories.

“But now what I want to do is put Ferrari in the drawer for a mo𓂃ment and think only of McLaren.”