Carlos Sainz has disclosed that he is poised to make a decision on his future Formula 1 team “very soon” as he weighs up concrete interest from Williams and Sauber.
Ferrari’s decision to acquire seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes to partner incumbent Charles Leclerc next season has placed Sainz without a drive.
The Spaniard’s chance at landing a coveted Red Bull return was dashed when Sergio Perez renewed, while Mercedes told him that he was no longer being considered.
However, Sainz is known to have a lucrative proposal from Sauber on the table as it prepares to morph into Audi in 2025, with Nico Hulkenberg having been signed up.
But the marque has opposition to attain his services as Williams boss James Vowles has been in talks with Sainz’s camp and has outlined he’s the side’s main target.
Speaking on the Spanish chat show El Hormiguero before his home round, Sainz revealed that the much-anticipated choice on his next destination could be imminent.
“I have my options on the table ready to make a decision and I’m going to make it very soon because I want to get it out the way to focus on the rest of the year with Ferrari.
“There will be time to think about the next team.
“This year I have a car that allows me to get on the podium and win some races and I want to focus on that.”
Both Williams and Sauber have sustained sluggish starts to the current campaign and cover the bottom two positions in the Constructors’ Championship as it stands.
However, Audi is investing substantial backing as it prepares to venture into F1 once new regulations are introduced, while Williams is also undergoing a vast revamp.
Vowles made a public pitch to Sainz over the Grove-based squad’s strive to return to the top and teased that there were “big names” arriving at the team in the future.
Sainz detailed in Canada that he was leaning towards prioritising building a relationship with a side and he sees the impending rule change as an opportune moment.
“I firmly believe that you need a medium to long-term project to be successful in Formula 1,” Sainz said.
“I don’t think you will ever be successful if you just go somewhere for a year and then leave again.
“2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 are a good opportunity, right? 2026 will be a lottery. We have now seen the rules. It is impossible to predict who will manage them best.
“It may be that you will not be competitive in 2025 and 2026. But in 2026 everything will be turned upside down. That could also be a positive surprise,” he concluded.
