Carlos Sainz says he’ll take all the time he needs to decide his F1 future, despite mounting pressure from teams vying for his signature.
After four seasons with Ferrari, Sainz finds himself a free agent on the driver market. But with his early ambitions of joining Red Bull or Mercedes now clearly scrapped, the Spaniard is left to consider offers from Williams and Sauber/Audi, but also a late bid from Alpine.
While Sauber is willing to wait things out a little longer, Williams’ pursuit of alternative options is a clear indication that the Grove-based outfit is growing impatient with Sainz’s indecision.
On the other hand, selecting the team with the most promising long-term future is not only a crucial task for the three-time Grand Prix winner, but also a very difficult one.
In Austria last Sunday, addressing his situation, Sainz was more inclined to savour his podium finish at the Red Bull Ring rather than ponder his next career move.
“As I said before, for sure that pressure, I’m not going to receive it on a Sunday afternoon after a podium where I’m keen to enjoy it,” he said.
“As I said before, I think it’s sometimes, like George [Russell] was saying, we take it for granted when we’re in one of these podiums celebrating, wearing a Ferrari suit.
“And yeah, I was thinking to try to enjoy this moment, because who knows when it’s going to be the next time in the future.
“And also, as much as maybe there are some teams that are nervous or pressuring me, it’s time for me also to enjoy this moment of being on a podium.”
©Ferrari
Nevertheless, Sainz’s decision process continues to idle in the background, and he has made clear that he won't force the issue one way or the other.
“I’m going to be honest with and straightforward with the teams,” he added. “But it’s such an important decision for me also that I’m going to take all the time that I need to take it.
“And if there’s teams that cannot wait or are a bit impatient, yeah, I cannot do anything about it.
“It’s going to be my future, my decision, and I’m going to try and be as honest as possible with everyone and give myself the time that I need.”
Both Esteban Ocon and Valtteri Bottas are rumored to be Williams’ top alternatives should Sainz ultimately decline the British outfit’s offer.
But the outgoing Alpine charger is also high on Haas’ shortlist of candidates to replace Audi-bound Nico Hulkenberg.
With the driver market in a holding pattern, all eyes remain on Sainz. Will he prioritize a team with immediate podium potential or take a calculated gamble on a team on the rise?
Only time will tell where the talented Spaniard will land, but one thing's for sure: Sainz is in control of his destiny and plans to enjoy the ride.
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