Carlos Sainz doesn’t want to “wait any longer” to determine which Method 1 group he races with in 2025, and hopes to have his future secured within the coming weeks.
The Spaniard has lengthy been contemplating his choices as he prepares to depart Ferrari on the finish of the season, and it’s anticipated that his selection has narrowed down between Williams and Sauber/Audi for subsequent 12 months.
Lengthy-shot choices at Pink Bull and Mercedes have dwindled as the previous retained Sergio Perez on an obvious 1+1 deal, whereas the latter group is predicted to advertise younger hopeful Andrea Kimi Antonelli right into a race drive for 2025 rather than the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.
It was famous by Kevin Magnussen that Sainz has been the “cork within the bottle” for the motive force market forward of the Spanish Grand Prix, and Sainz had earlier acknowledged that he doesn’t want to have deciding on his future occupying his thoughts for an excessive amount of longer.
“The newest is {that a} resolution will probably be taken very quickly. I do not need to wait any longer,” Sainz mentioned.
“I believe it is getting to some extent the place it is clearly taking area out of my head for fairly a number of weeks and months, and I believe it is clearly time to decide.
“I am nonetheless undecided a method or one other, it is nonetheless one thing that I am discussing with my group and brainstorming.
“It has been a really hectic few couple of weeks after Canada for me. So I have not had time to essentially sit down and take a call. And that is what I’ll goal within the subsequent few weeks.”
Logan Sargeant, Williams FW46 battles with Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Crew Kick Sauber C44
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs
Sainz reckoned that it was “unattainable” to decide primarily based on his prospects in 2026, remarking that it was one thing of a “lottery” to try to predict one thing so quickly.
He mentioned that this implies the anticipated efficiency in 2025 has an affect, whereas additionally attempting to pay attention to the groups’ long-term aspirations.
“I believe 2026, guessing now in 2024 who’s going to be performing higher, it is nearly unattainable,” he added.
“I used the time period ‘a little bit of a lottery’, or a ‘coin toss’ to see who’s going to be faster in ’26, on condition that the regulation is so totally different.
“So 2025 turns into essential at that stage if I can not predict ’26 and I do not know who’s going to be performing higher.
“However it’s also the long run. It is usually attempting to grasp the ability unit facet. It is attempting to grasp the group dynamics. Uh, all these elements come into play when taking a call.
That is why it is taking lengthy and it is taking time for me to seek out a while inside myself to take the choice.”
Sainz is thought to be prime of Williams’ wishlist to companion Alex Albon for 2025, however has additionally been courted by Audi, which has apparently made a compelling supply to the ex-McLaren driver to hitch Nico Hulkenberg at Hinwil.
Requested concerning the prospect of teaming up with Sainz at Williams, Albon acknowledged that he didn’t thoughts who his team-mate can be, however acknowledged that somebody with Sainz’s expertise can be an essential seize for the group.
“Honestly on my facet I am not so opinionated or fazed about who my team-mate is. When it comes to expertise and basic growth of the group, in fact it could be useful,” Albon defined.
“We’re on this lengthy journey, on this lengthy venture, we want suggestions. I have a look at myself again from my Pink Bull days and once I joined Williams, there was plenty of issues I may carry to the desk which I felt was serving to my suggestions but in addition the efficiency of the automotive.
“Whoever it might be I believe it could be a driver with expertise that may are available and in that case, it could be essential for us, particularly if we need to be combating for the midfield within the subsequent few years.”
