Carlos Sainz trailed Charles Leclerc by six points in the 2023 Formula 1 drivers’ championship.
Sainz stated that Ferrari fully backs him despite the confirmation that Lewis Hamilton will take his place in 2025. He mentioned that he is not considering his departure until the season ends. Negotiations for a contract extension alongside Leclerc fell through due to Sainz’s request for a multi-year deal until at least the end of 2026. Ferrari ultimately decided not to continue beyond Sainz’s current agreement. Sainz addressed the press after sitting out the initial pre-season testing session, while Leclerc finished second behind Max Verstappen.
Sainz revealed, “Interestingly enough, my future was determined before the first race. I had planned to continue with Ferrari, but they unexpectedly declined. I was looking forward to signing a new contract with them, and everything seemed to be heading in that direction. However, the situation has completely changed from what I thought in October and November last year. I am now a free agent for 2025, and I have yet to decide who I will be racing with. I need to take my time and make a decision.”
There have been rumors connecting Sainz to Mercedes in a direct swap with Hamilton or to the Audi project at Sauber led by Andreas Seidl. Seidl previously worked with Sainz at McLaren, where they helped revive the Spaniard’s career after challenging periods at Toro Rosso and Renault. However, Sainz declined to provide any further hints about his future and emphasized that the record-breaking 2024 season is long enough for him to bid farewell.
Sainz added, “I know that Fred and the team will provide me with full support. If we find ourselves in a championship fight this year, we will seize that opportunity together and have a memorable final year. Emotionally, I haven’t processed it all yet because we have 24 races ahead of us. I’m sure the last few races or the final week will be emotional, especially because I will be leaving behind a fantastic group of people with whom I have worked well. I have encountered remarkable individuals at Ferrari who have made me feel at home right from the start. So, we will save the emotional part for the end of the year. Until then, it’s all about focusing and doing the best possible job for this team in my last year.”
According to the Source total-motorsport.com
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