Carlos Sainz maintained that he enjoys the unwavering backing of Ferrari, notwithstanding the Scuderia’s confirmation of Lewis Hamilton replacing him for 2025.
He stressed he is not dwelling on his impending departure until the season concludes.
Sainz had anticipated securing a contract extension alongside Charles Leclerc.
However, talks purportedly collapsed over his demand for a multi-year agreement spanning at least until the culmination of 2026. Ferrari subsequently opted not to extend beyond his existing contract.
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Addressing the media in Bahrain after sitting out the initial pre-season testing session, Sainz recounted, “Funnily enough, my future was decided before the first race.
I was going to continue with Ferrari; obviously, they said no unexpectedly. I was keen on signing a new contract with them, and everything seemed to be progressing in that direction.”
He continued, “But obviously, the situation has changed drastically from where I thought we stood in October, November last year.
I am essentially a free agent for 2025, and I am yet to determine who I’ll be racing with, so I need time to decide.”
Sainz has been linked with a move to Mercedes in a direct swap with Hamilton, or potentially joining the Audi project at Sauber under the stewardship of Andreas Seidl.
While Seidl previously collaborated with Sainz at McLaren, aiding in revitalising the Spaniard’s career following challenging spells at Toro Rosso and Renault, Sainz declined to divulge further details about his future.
Asserting that the record-breaking 2024 season is extensive, affording ample time for farewells, Sainz stated, “I know from Fred and company that they’re going to give me full support.
If we are in a championship battle this year, we’re going to seize that opportunity together and cherish this final year.”
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He added, “On the emotional front, to be honest, not much yet.
There are 24 races ahead of us, and undoubtedly, the last few races or the final week will be emotional, especially since I’ll be leaving behind a fantastic group of individuals with whom I’ve collaborated effectively.”
“We’ll reserve the emotional aspect more towards the end of the year. Until then, it’s all about focusing and striving to deliver the best possible results for this team in our last year together.”