Carlos Sainz is convinced that he isn’t letting potential opportunities in Formula 1 “slip” as he endeavours to not rush the decision over where he will be racing in 2025.
Sainz is assessing the options available to him as he weighs up who to sign with amid Ferrari’s choice to sign Lewis Hamilton next season leaving him without a seat.
The Spaniard held talks with Red Bull about coming in alongside Max Verstappen, but Sergio Perez’s probable extension means the Audi proposal seems his best bet.
Audi will venture into the sport once new technical regulations are introduced in 2026, taking over the Sauber-owned squad which has named Sainz as its main target.
But despite there being reports that the German marque is eager to receive a definitive response at the end of this month, Sainz has said he’s no closer to a resolution.
“I think everyone depends on everyone. Formula 1 is a circle and I think I haven’t made up my mind yet and I don’t know where I’m going to be racing next year,” he said.
“I haven’t also set any deadline, but I can just tell you such an important decision in this stage of my career that I want to have all the options on the table and think about it carefully because I’m about to turn 30 this year and the next project is a project I want to make work and see how it works so I’m going to give myself as much time as I need.”
With Sauber having announced Nico Hulkenberg will switch from Haas in 2025, Audi is reported to be eager to receive an answer from Sainz in the upcoming weeks.
However, Sainz has hinted those rumours are nonsense and is adamant that postponing his verdict will not cause him to squander pending propositions from teams.
Asked whether he was worried his options could narrow, Sainz replied: “That’s why behind the scenes I know more than you guys, you have the rumours and everything.
But don’t worry, I’m not going to let slip anything, I’m just going to put all the options on the table and take the right decision.
“I can just tell you just once I make my mind up everything will happen very quickly and it’s all about putting everything together I feel like I need on my next new contract.”
Sainz had been viewed as a potential Hamilton replacement at Mercedes, but it has been written this week that the German outfit is no longer interested in his services.
When it was put to him that Mercedes no longer appeared as a viable destination for him next season, Sainz added: “I cannot confirm it [those rumours], I’m sorry.”
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