Carlos Sainz Jnr is determined to find a place on the grid next year despite admitting he is unlikely to find a sufficiently competitive drive.
The Ferrari driver, who will lose his place to Lewis Hamilton next year, told media at Spa-Francorchamps his preference for next year is to have “a championship-winning car.”
“The likelihood of that, we all know that is small, but that’s always been my target,” he added. “And if that doesn’t happen, I’ll choose what’s best for my near future, for sure.”
However he ruled out spending a year on the sidelines in the hope of finding a more competitive seat in 2026.
“Absolutely no, a sabbatical is not even in my head,” he said. “I’m happy in Formula 1, I love Formula 1 and I would rather go down to a midfield team and use my skill, in the peak of my career, to try and help a midfield team to find the right way than taking a year off or being third driver for anyone. I’m competitive and I know I can still bring to a midfield team that side of me.”
Audi, which will take over Sauber at the end of 2025, is among Sainz’s options. The manufacturer announced this week former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto, who hired Sainz to the team in 2021, will join them next month. However Sainz said that connection does not change his view of Audi as a potential destination.
“I’m not up to date with everything that is going on at every team,” he said, “but of course I think the arrival of Mattia to any team is positive, mainly because he has the experience of what it takes to build a team that is a top team nowadays, like it is at Ferrari,” he said.
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“He has that experience from Ferrari that he can bring into Audi and I’m sure it’s a great asset for them and that’s why they hired him. Of course, I wish him all the best there.”
Williams and Alpine are also understood to be vying for Sainz’s services. The latter is believed to be in discussions with Mercedes about a future engine deal.
Sainz remains unsure when his future will be settled. “I don’t know if it’s going to be before or after the summer break,” he said.
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