Sainz weighs up his chances: 'I'm talking to a few teams'
Carlos Sainz has already been on the podium three times in as many Grand Prix appearances this season. One cannot help but think that the Ferrari driver has had an excellent start to the season, but a contract for 2025 is still pending. The 29-year-old Spaniard hopes the question marks over his future will end as soon as possible.
Lewis Hamilton was recruited by Frederic Vasseur and Ferrari to drive alongside Charles Leclerc in 2025. So the three-time Grand Prix winner has to look for a new employer and that fell raw on his head. After all, it is not as if Sainz has been driven to pieces by teammate Leclerc in recent years either. Indeed, in 2021 he scored more points from the Monegasque, in 2022 Sainz admittedly came up a bit short, but last season the difference between the two was just six points after 22 races.
So, although the year has only just begun, Sainz also has to think about where his future lies during the season. Not ideal, especially as there will be extra pressure on his performance. That performance is not a problem for the time being, but the silly season seems to be turning into a real transfer carousel with 12 drivers who do not yet have a contract for 2025.
Sainz on future
"I'm talking to a few [teams] because that's what my management team and myself have to do if I still don't have a seat for next year. So we talk to pretty much all of them. It's just a matter of seeing what are the more realistic options and what are the best options for me and for my future," Sainz revealed to Sky Sports.
The World Championship number four does not want to rush anything, but at the same time wants to sign somewhere as soon as possible. "All I want to say is that now is obviously the time to speed everything up a bit and hopefully we can finalise everything sooner rather than later" he said. "I have no idea where I will be driving next year. It's true that we are talking to a lot of teams. I just have to stay focused on what I'm doing, prove to myself and everyone that if I get a fast car, I'll get the most out of it and I'll deliver."
At the same time, a team like Red Bull Racing does not seem intent on tying the knot on next year's driver line-up any time soon. Helmut Marko previously indicated that his team will not be pressurised by what other teams are planning in the driver market.