Carlos Onoro: Negotiating a contract is like chess.

      In modern Formula 1, each team has hundreds of employees, but within these large collectives, there are much smaller teams working – this refers to the close circle of each driver, the team that includes people who help achieve the best possible results.

      Carlos Onoro, the cousin of Carlos Sainz and also the manager of the Spanish driver, told the official championship website about how their work is structured and how they operate during a period that is not accidentally called the "silly season" in motorsport, i.e., when it comes time to negotiate the next contract and the paddock is filled with all sorts of rumors.

      "I only don’t drive the car, but otherwise, I am involved in almost all aspects of the driver's life," he says. "My responsibilities include handling matters such as taxes, finances, communication with lawyers – in short, all the issues that Carlos needs to resolve off the track.

      On the track, I help build relationships with the team, deal with contracts, negotiate with sponsors, and just travel everywhere with him. We live in a world full of hustle and bustle, but I think it’s good to have someone nearby whom he knows well and trusts."

      Carlos Onoro also comes from a sporting family; his father was a two-time champion of Spain in rallying. And, of course, he has been in contact with Carlos Sainz Sr., a two-time world rally champion, who is his uncle, for almost his entire life.

      He has an economic education; at one time, Onoro worked in finance, but he has always been passionate about motorsport, and he first attended a Formula 1 race in 2015 – it was the Singapore Grand Prix.

      "I absolutely loved it there!" recalls Carlos. "Can you imagine the reaction of someone like me, who has always been interested in Formula 1, watched races on TV, and then I ended up in the paddock and got full access to everything that happens there along with the driver?"

      Carlos Sainz was a rookie that season, racing for Toro Rosso, and at the end of that year, the driver’s father called Onoro and suggested they think about collaborating. The next day, they were already discussing the prospects of future work together.

      "When you work with family members and friends, you have to act very carefully," says Onoro. "Family matters should not be mixed with business issues, and that’s the first thing we agreed on. It’s a top priority, and I think we’re handling it well. I always say that I treat Carlos exactly the same way as all my business partners in previous jobs – we have the same mutual respect and roughly the same relationship.

      And when we go home, spend summer vacations together, or do something else, I’m just his older cousin, and we don’t talk about business. When we play golf or padel tennis, or have dinner together, we don’t discuss business topics.

      But when we’re at the track or traveling together, even on the plane, we use any suitable moment to open the laptop and work on the schedule or current affairs, since the flight can last many hours.

      We have open and trusting relationships. If either of us sees that something is not going as it should, if we’re not achieving the desired result, we can always raise our hand and say: 'This needs to be addressed, and this needs to be changed.'

      I already know what Carlos likes and what he doesn’t, and I can calmly explain this to the team. For example, on Saturdays between the third practice and qualifying, we don’t allow any meetings with sponsors so that nothing distracts the driver. During this time, he needs to focus or communicate with the engineers.

      Over the years, I’ve learned everything that can be done and what cannot be done, and ultimately, this makes life easier for everyone."

      One of the important aspects of a manager's role in Formula 1 is working during the period when the aforementioned "silly season" occurs, when rumors arise about what changes may happen in team line-ups.

      Here’s how Onoro described the events that took place in 2024 when it became known that Ferrari decided to part ways with Carlos Sainz and sign a contract with Lewis Hamilton:

      "It’s no secret that in 2024, for us, as well as for 99% of the paddock, this was a surprise. Of course, it was a difficult moment, as I felt my responsibility and had to do everything possible to negotiate a good contract for Carlos. At the same time, I had to continue dealing with all current affairs every day.

      There was no time for long sleeps; I had to constantly have phone conversations, and all of this started to wear me out, but I had to maintain focus and a clear mind to develop the right strategy.

      Carlos Sainz Sr. also plays his role in the negotiations, although he does not participate in solving everyday tasks. But when it comes to a contract in Formula 1, we act quite well as a united team, and we discuss everything together…

      It’s like playing chess. You prepare to make your next move, but you don’t want your intentions to be obvious. In general, when you move pieces on the chessboard, you have to act cautiously. As soon as you start negotiating with many people, information leaks begin, and the press immediately grabs onto that, after which a wave of rumors starts, and the silly season begins.

      However, it’s always fun and interesting in its own way. You hear various gossip and try to understand to what extent some of it may correspond to reality and what is just fiction.

      Our task is to offer Carlos all possible options, after which he must make his decision. He is always involved in the negotiation process; we inform him about everything and discuss the strategy together, trying to agree on the most favorable terms, but the decision is ultimately his.

      Once the driver makes up his mind, we communicate his decision to the team, handle all the paperwork, and sign the contract. Of course, other tasks involve presenting the news to the other contenders for the position or other teams as correctly as possible, as well as informing the public.

      We always try to act as professionally as possible, not to burn bridges, because in Formula 1, you never know how the future will unfold. We always strive to be correct, honest, and sincere in our communication with all teams. I think we’ve managed to do that so far…"