Carlos Sainz has hit back at criticism that he is taking too long to decide upon his 2025 Formula 1 move, citing that the choice will define the next period in his career.
Sainz’s prospects beyond this campaign have dominated the off-track headlines since it was announced that Ferrari will replace him with Lewis Hamilton from 2025.
The Spaniard’s chances at landing a coveted Red Bull seat were dispelled as Sergio Perez was renewed, while Mercedes seems set to promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Sainz was touted to be closing on a choice between Sauber/Audi and Williams until Alpine entered the conversation over the Spanish Grand Prix weekend last month.
Despite claiming an outcome to the saga was imminent in Barcelona, Sainz backtracked on those comments in Austria last weekend amid Alpine’s renewed proposal.
Asked how much weighing up his future team was becoming a distraction to his on-track endeavours with Ferrari, Sainz said: “Honestly, quite a lot. I’m not going to lie.
“Monday to Thursdays before I get to the track there’s a lot of phone calls, a lot of time spent on the phone, meetings with my management team but also the teams I’m talking to, trying to understand and trying to have a full picture of the situation. It’s probably quite stressful and time-consuming instead of maybe being able to fully disconnect and recharge.
“Obviously your mind is still somewhere else and thinking about your future and wondering what it will be. So not an ideal situation.”
However, Sainz, who bagged his fifth podium this season at the Red Bull Ring, believes his most recent outing proves that the speculation isn’t impacting his results.
“At the same time when I arrive on Thursday I feel like I’m able to perform as soon as I get into an engineering meeting,” he continued.
“As soon as put the helmet on I feel 100 per cent in the car.
“I think the Austria weekend kind of proves that I’m still at a high level and performing at one of my best seasons in Formula 1.
“I believe there’s always more performance in being in a stable contract situation than being where I am at now, so I’m never going to deny myself that what I’ve said always.”
Several drivers with underdetermined plans have said Sainz is holding up the driver market and Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu has expressed bafflement with his indecision.
But Sainz has remained resolute in the stance that he is permitted to not be rushed into a choice over the impending move that will come to categorise the long-term.
“There’s a bit of guessing, a bit of luck, a bit of trying to educate yourself on what is happening around in Formula 1”, he explained.
“What I’ve thought about is don’t judge the move in the short term or in the next few races or in the next year.
“You always need to see and criticise or analyse a driver’s move with perspective in time. ‘Was this the right move for Carlos in five years time or not’.
“That’s why I think I’m going to take every time possible to make such an important decision
because it involves the outcome of the next few years of my life so I think it is valid to give myself the time.
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