Carlos Sainz has disclosed Williams is in a “good place” to acquire his services in Formula 1 amid boss James Vowles’ claim the team is optimistic about its chances.
Sainz has been the cork in the F1 driver market bottle in recent months as teams lower down the order have recorded an interest in signing the outgoing Ferrari driver.
The Spaniard’s hopes of landing a potential title-contending drive have all but disappeared as he considers proposals for 2025 from Alpine, Sauber/Audi and Williams.
The Briton explained that his optimism about the Grove-based squad’s long-term prospects has bolstered his belief that the “odds are in our favour” concerning Sainz.
Sainz has admitted that he boasts a positive relationship with Vowles and has been impressed with the steps he has been making to help Williams return to the front.
“I think Williams have always been in a good place,” he responded. “So have the other teams.
“Because, as you guys know, it’s not that I am limited in options. We will see.
“James has been very vocal about wanting me in Williams, and as you guys know I’m a big fan of his and his work ethic and the way he’s pushing that team forward.
“So, it’s not secret that I get on very well with James. Whether he’s being optimistic or not, I keep that to myself.”
The three-time F1 race winner’s indecision has prompted some people to caution that he could end up in a perilous position where interested sides elect to move on.
However, Sainz believes the various developments at management level with Alpine and Sauber/Audi have demonstrated that he’s been right to protract his decision.
“It feels, yeah, a privilege to be so well-regarded by these teams,” he expressed. “To have such positive feedback from them.
“I feel almost honoured to have this positive will from these teams and I can only thank them for their patience and their willingness to sign me.
“But it’s been a very complex driver market, a very complex situation, and that’s why I’ve been having to wait and see how every team’s future was panning out.
“And as you guys see, every week has given me the feeling that I’ve been doing the right thing to wait, because every week you know something different about each team.
“So even though I see some fans and some media getting impatient, saying ‘why is he waiting so long’, when you look at the market and when you look at each team, all the changes that have been in every team, it clearly shows that waiting was exactly the right thing to do – because the more I’ve been waiting, the more information I was getting from each team that I have opportunities to go to.
“So I hope that you guys put that in value and appreciate why I’ve been waiting and why it’s been probably the right call to keep it for this long.”
But while Vowles indicated that he hopes Williams can make an announcement prior to the shutdown, Sainz has remained reticent on when he will finalise his switch.
“What I look forward is to go to the summer break and not hear this question for three weeks,” he said when asked about his future.
“Because I’ve been hearing it every day for the last six months almost, and it gets to a point that if I’m not saying anything, it’s not like I’m going to tell you guys anything about it.”
He added: “On the thinking side, I’m pretty calm. I know what I want and why I’m waiting.”
