The direction of Sainz’s career once he leaves Ferrari is currently the subject of major interest in the F1 paddock, given that he is being dropped by the Scuderia in favor of Lewis Hamilton, while also being the only non-Red Bull driver to have won races since 2022.
The F1 driver market is in rare overdrive at the start of 2024, with most of the grid also out of contract just as Sainz and his camp try to plan his next move.
He had emerged as a possible 2025 candidate for the Aston Martin team before Fernando Alonso opted to re-sign with the team, while Red Bull and Mercedes also have vacancies in F1’s top tier and Sainz has long been linked to Audi’s nascent takeover of Sauber.
When asked before the Chinese GP if he might be forced to choose to race for a team with less potential for success in 2025 if he wants his future settled sooner – as has been suggested as being Sainz’s preference – he replied: “No. My best options are still open, which in my opinion is a positive thing and which obviously requires a bit of time, given the market situation.
“It will take some time for everyone to form their minds and make their decisions, but the right options are still open.
“There has been no progress in the last two weeks, so there is nothing to tell you.
“Obviously the sooner you get to a point – the sooner everything evolves – the better because, at the same time, it’s not like it’s affecting my performance this year, but the sooner you get it out of your head and the situation, the best.
“But it takes time and decisions, so now it’s time to let it happen and see the progress.”
Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, arrives on the track
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Sainz also claimed that “all options are viable for me at the moment” due to his current contract situation.
“So I have to consider all options,” he added.
Part of this should be assessing which of F1’s new and upcoming engine manufacturers could produce the best version of the simplified powertrains in 2026, since Mercedes managed to dominate the championship after doing exactly that a decade ago.
Alonso, for example, insists that having a factory contract with Honda from 2026 was an important part of his decision-making process to stay there, although sources have indicated that his chances to sign elsewhere had diminished as the Japanese race approached. the last time.
Sainz suggests, however, that given the huge change in regulations, he sees “2026 as a bit of a coin toss.”
He explained that this was because “it is impossible to know at the moment who will get it right for 2026”.
“So even when I make the decision about where I will be in 2026/2027 – no matter how much you talk to the teams, how much they sell you on their performance with the engine – the reality is that no one knows “, he continued.
“If someone wins in 2026, in my opinion, it is not because of smart decision-making, but because they are just in the right place at the right time.
“As for 2025, my opinion is of course this: with the level I am showing and driving at the moment, it is obvious that being in a competitive car would be very attractive for me.
“But again, it’s not up to me and I have to keep waiting.”
Watch: F1 Team Concerns Over 2026 Regulation Changes
The direction of Sainz’s career once he leaves Ferrari is currently the subject of major interest in the F1 paddock, given that he is being dropped by the Scuderia in favor of Lewis Hamilton, while also being the only non-Red Bull driver to have won races since 2022.
The F1 driver market is in rare overdrive at the start of 2024, with most of the grid also out of contract just as Sainz and his camp try to plan his next move.
He had emerged as a possible 2025 candidate for the Aston Martin team before Fernando Alonso opted to re-sign with the team, while Red Bull and Mercedes also have vacancies in F1’s top tier and Sainz has long been linked to Audi’s nascent takeover of Sauber.
When asked before the Chinese GP if he might be forced to choose to race for a team with less potential for success in 2025 if he wants his future settled sooner – as has been suggested as being Sainz’s preference – he replied: “No. My best options are still open, which in my opinion is a positive thing and which obviously requires a bit of time, given the market situation.
“It will take some time for everyone to form their minds and make their decisions, but the right options are still open.
“There has been no progress in the last two weeks, so there is nothing to tell you.
“Obviously the sooner you get to a point – the sooner everything evolves – the better because, at the same time, it’s not like it’s affecting my performance this year, but the sooner you get it out of your head and the situation, the best.
“But it takes time and decisions, so now it’s time to let it happen and see the progress.”
Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari, arrives on the track
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Sainz also claimed that “all options are viable for me at the moment” due to his current contract situation.
“So I have to consider all options,” he added.
Part of this should be assessing which of F1’s new and upcoming engine manufacturers could produce the best version of the simplified powertrains in 2026, since Mercedes managed to dominate the championship after doing exactly that a decade ago.
Alonso, for example, insists that having a factory contract with Honda from 2026 was an important part of his decision-making process to stay there, although sources have indicated that his chances to sign elsewhere had diminished as the Japanese race approached. the last time.
Sainz suggests, however, that given the huge change in regulations, he sees “2026 as a bit of a coin toss.”
He explained that this was because “it is impossible to know at the moment who will get it right for 2026”.
“So even when I make the decision about where I will be in 2026/2027 – no matter how much you talk to the teams, how much they sell you on their performance with the engine – the reality is that no one knows “, he continued.
“If someone wins in 2026, in my opinion, it is not because of smart decision-making, but because they are just in the right place at the right time.
“As for 2025, my opinion is of course this: with the level I am showing and driving at the moment, it is obvious that being in a competitive car would be very attractive for me.
“But again, it’s not up to me and I have to keep waiting.”
Watch: F1 Team Concerns Over 2026 Regulation Changes