For Carlos Sainz, a sabbatical in 2025 is out of the question
Carlos Sainz still doesn't know who he'll be driving for next year, but he's determined to stay in F1, regardless of whether it's a mid-grid team.
Weeks pass as we approach the summer break… And we still don’t know where Carlos Sainz will be driving next year. The Spaniard has stated several times that he wants to take the time needed to decide which team would be best for him. But there is no question of taking a sabbatical year if he does not receive a satisfactory offer.
« A gap year is not even considered in my mind. I am happy in Formula 1, I love Formula 1 and I would prefer to join a midfield team and use my skills, at the peak of my career, to try to help a midfield team find the right path rather than taking a gap year or being a third driver for someone. You know, I am competitive and I know that I can still bring something to a midfield team », stated the Ferrari driver during a press conference on Thursday.
Carlos Sainz wants a car capable of winning the championship.
As for the decision timing, Carlos Sainz has no answer. “You want to know if I will decide tomorrow, in five days, or before the summer break? I honestly can’t give you an answer, and I can’t respond to that question. It’s as simple as that. I don’t know. I don’t know if it will be before or after the summer break,” the Spaniard repeated, confused.
He indicated that his future is still under discussion. « There are changes in a lot of teams that I watch for next year almost every week. So, there are evolutions on the team market as much as on the driver market. I’ll continue to give myself time to make my decision and analyze all these things that continue to change, without giving you too many clues here »,” he said.
He has in any case stated that his wish for next year would be a car capable of winning the championship, which has been his number one priority since the beginning of these discussions about his future. « And the probability of this happening, we all know it’s low, but it’s still my goal. If it doesn’t come true, I will choose what’s best for my immediate future, that’s for sure », he said, determined to stay in F1 next year.
