Ahead of this weekend’s returning Qatar Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz has admitted that contract talks with Ferrari are yet to take place, with the Spaniard hoping to solve his future in the winter.
Sainz is currently contracted to Ferrari like Charles Leclerc until the end of 2024; however, he’s previously made it clear that he likes to enter a season knowing where he’ll be for the following campaign.
As a result, the 29-year-old is wanting to know where he’ll be for 2025 before next season gets underway, leaving him hopeful that talks with Ferrari will take place in the winter.
He admits that there simply hasn’t been the time to talk about a new deal just yet, given that the Maranello-based team are in a fight with Mercedes for second in the Constructors’ Championship.
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Ferrari sit 20 points behind Mercedes with six races remaining, although the Italians are arguably in better form.
Sainz recently claimed back-to-back pole positions in Italy and Singapore, before claiming a rostrum in both.
His podium in Singapore came in the form of P1, making him the first non-Red Bull driver to win a Grand Prix this year.
Whilst Sainz has been linked to Audi for 2026, his current form would suggest that Ferrari are planning a new deal for him, especially as he sits 15 points ahead of Leclerc in the Drivers’ Championship.
Ultimately, though, all will be discussed in the off-season.
“It’s not a question of not wanting to renew, it’s just that we haven’t sat down,” Sainz said, via quotes by F1i.com.
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“We’ve been travelling all day and the priority is to finish the season in the best possible way.
“Why are you going to start negotiating with four months left in the winter when you can have time and calm? My future, I think I have said it several times, will be decided, or I will try to decide it, in [the] winter.
“You know what my priority or intention is in the medium-to-long-term, or in the short, medium and long-term, and I hope we can find out in the winter.”