According to Carlos Sainz, every team with an available seat has offered him a contract for F1 2025.
Carlos Sainz has still yet to decide upon his next move in Formula 1, but admitted that Red Bull and Mercedes are still potential options for him in the future – even if a move to either team does not come to pass next season.
As his tenure at Ferrari approaches its end this season, Sainz is regarded as the most highly sought-after driver in the sport. The anticipation of Lewis Hamilton taking his place at Maranello next season only adds to the excitement.
Carlos Sainz keeping options open in ‘uncertain’ future beyond F1 2025
At 29 years old, he remains uncertain about his future career destination. Williams has expressed their strong interest in him as the ideal candidate to team up with Alex Albon. Additionally, there have been ongoing discussions with Audi for quite some time, and more recently, Alpine has shown interest in signing him.
While both seats at Red Bull are filled contractually beyond the end of the year, the future of Sergio Perez is under the spotlight and is believed to be uncertain as it stands, while Mercedes are looking to fill the seat vacated by Hamilton.
When questioned about his connections with Williams and his experience driving for renowned teams on the grid, Sainz is hesitant to dismiss the possibility of a future drive with any team at this time.
“Williams is, as you say, a super-emblematic Formula 1 team,” Sainz told the Spanish edition of GQ when asked about his future and reminded they are one of the teams he has yet to drive for in his career.
More on the F1 2025 driver market as it stands
F1 2025 driver line-up: Who is confirmed for the 2025 grid?
F1 driver contracts: What is the contract status of every driver on the F1 2024 grid?
“I still have a few teams left in my list, including Red Bull Racing and Mercedes. There are a couple of teams I haven’t had the chance to join yet, but I might consider them in the future. It’s hard to say when exactly, as the future remains uncertain. Just to give you an idea, I’m not sure about the timeline either.”
I can affirm that I have been a part of five different teams over the past ten years, as previously mentioned. I hold fond memories of each team and if given the chance tomorrow, I am confident in my ability to rejoin any of them. Therefore, I am committed to preserving these connections.
Over the years, Sainz has frequently been regarded as one of the sport’s most underrated drivers. However, despite securing his first victory at Silverstone in 2022, he personally does not consider himself underrated among knowledgeable individuals within the paddock.
He replied, “To be honest, I don’t believe so, according to those who have a deep understanding of the sport,” when questioned about whether he had ever experienced a sense of being underestimated in Formula 1.
I have always felt valued by team managers, drivers, and individuals deeply engaged in the daily operations of the sport. This includes both the engineers and those who closely monitor the finer aspects.
There may be instances where I have received less attention or been underestimated, potentially due to the media or individuals with limited understanding of the sport or a superficial interest, who are not deeply involved in the intricacies.
However, as I constantly express, the individuals who hold significance in my life are those who genuinely comprehend the sport. In this regard, I have never experienced a sense of being underestimated by my competitors, engineers, or team managers.
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