Sainz Seeks Speedy Outcome For 2025 Seat

Carlos Sainz has expressed a strong desire to finalize his seat for 2025 at the earliest opportunity.

As the 2023 season concluded last year, the Spanish driver was vocal about his wish to have a renewed contract with Ferrari before the 2024 season’s opening race.

However, the only confirmation Sainz received from Ferrari was the announcement that Lewis Hamilton would take his seat in 2025. In response to a query from Marca about whether this decision has given him a sense of freedom for his last season with Ferrari, Sainz responded:

“Obviously they are not going to count on me much to develop the car, so that does allow me to focus solely and exclusively on getting the most out of myself.”

Already linked with Sauber-Audi, Mercedes and Red Bull for 2025, the 29-year-old admits he might not get the speedy outcome he is seeking.

“Honestly, I have no idea when it will be resolved, because right now the only thing we are doing is talking to everyone and finding out a little about what position each team has for availability and seeing which project suits my needs and intentions,” Sainz said.

His famous father, rallying legend Carlos Sainz, was conspicuously present at the pre-season test last week, reportedly helping to sound out his son’s potential opportunities.

When asked if he wants an immediately quick car for 2025 or a promising project for the future, Sainz jr admitted: “Both.

“In the ideal case I will look to be in a good position both next year and in the future, but in fact I believe that with the change in regulations around the corner, you are having to take into consideration the future much more than ever.”

Sainz admitted that Mercedes and Red Bull are both options.

“I think Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull are the three teams that you undoubtedly know will be there next year, or for whatever happens even in 2026,” he said.

“But I’m still looking outside of those teams because of how F1 is changing.”

Beating his continuing Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc this year would give Sainz’s chances of a top seat a big boost.

“Carlos is very strong mentally, he never gives up, he is always there and always strong,” fellow Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, an Aston Martin ambassador, told Marca newspaper.

“Leclerc seems to be having a little more trouble with the new car.”

Russian F1 commentator Alexey Popov, meanwhile, thinks 2024 is a critical season for Leclerc, given that he will be paired with seven time world champion Hamilton from next year.

“Charles has a chance, but he has to grow up in his own head,” he said on VKontakte. “His constant self-flagellation, like (Lando) Norris – they need to look at Senna, Schumacher, Verstappen, Alonso, who never have the slightest doubt about themselves.

“If Charles just wants to remain a good guy, Lewis will eat him up even at the age of 40 and not knowing how to speak Italian.”