The only driver to defeat the dominant Red Bull team since 2022, achieving his most recent victory in Australia last month, Sainz will be replaced by seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton at the end of the season.
Sainz informed journalists before the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday that he was in discussions with several teams “because it is the responsibility of my management team and myself to do so when I am currently unemployed for next year.
“It’s simply a matter of delving into and examining the most realistic possibilities, as well as determining the best options for both myself and my future,” he added.
“The only thing I can say is that now is the time to speed things up and hopefully reach a resolution sooner rather than later.”
More than half of the current grid will be without a contract at the end of this year, with a possible opening at the F1 champion team, Red Bull, alongside three-time world champion Max Verstappen, as well as Mercedes looking for a replacement for Hamilton.
Sauber, which will be renamed Audi in 2026, is also a potential option.
Sainz emerged victorious in Melbourne just two weeks after undergoing an appendix surgery, which caused him to miss the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The Spanish driver stated that he has fully recovered.
“I’ve been cycling this week, stayed in Australia for a week, and resumed training at the gym,” he said. “I still can’t lift heavy weights like before, but at least I can complete my training and feel back to 100%.”
Sainz noted that Suzuka could pose a challenge for Ferrari, as the Italian team struggled there last year when the race took place at the end of September.
“Now is the time to determine if we can at least get closer and enjoy this amazing track more compared to what we experienced last year, as it is one of my favorites, if not my absolute favorite,” he said. (Written by Alan Baldwin)
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