Carlos Sainz needs to “speed up” his contract negotiations as he looks to secure a seat on the 2025 F1 grid.
Sainz, who scored the podium at Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, will leave Ferrari later this year and be replaced by Lewis Hamilton.
The 29-year-old has been linked with Mercedes, Aston Martin, Red Bull and Sauber, which will be Audi from 2026.
A move to Mercedes would sign a direct switch with Hamilton, joining Aston Martin would likely mean replacing Fernando Alonso and moving to Red Bull in Sergio Perez’s position, unless Max Verstappen strangely leaves.
Audi’s acquisition of Sauber means there may be a new line-up, with the existing duo of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu being safe.
“I reach out to some [teams] because that’s what my control team and I will do when I don’t have a task for next year yet. So we’re communicating with almost all of them,” Sainz said.
“It’s just a matter of going into more detail and seeing the realistic maximum characteristics and what the maximum productive characteristics are for me and for my future, which I don’t have any news for you and nothing to say here.
“The only thing I would say is that obviously the time has come to speed everything up a little bit and we can fix it sooner rather than later. “
During the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, Perez said he expected to find out what his long career was in “a month” and Toto Wolff said “some of the smart guys are close to signing for some of the other teams” when asked about Mercedes. ‘ to join George Russell by 2025.
Sainz made his F1 debut in 2015 but has never had a top qualification as he is the winner of a non-Red Bull race in the last 18 months, having won the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix and Australian Grand Prix this previous season.
He is also overtaking Charles Leclerc at Ferrari this season and, alongside Alonso, is the driver out of contract for next year.
“I have no idea where I’ll be next year. It’s true that we are talking to a lot of teams,” Sainz told Sky Sports F1 after his third-place finish at Suzuka.
“I just have to focus on what I’m doing, prove to myself and everyone that when they give me a fast car, I maximize what they give me and I deliver it.
“It’s been a smart start to the season. With this car, you can shine a little brighter. With last year’s car, I put in performances this year, but you couldn’t shine. “
“It was a much more complicated car to drive, with a lot more degradation and you were chasing at the back in the race. This year, you’re hunting ahead and overtaking, which allows you to shine a little brighter. Help, though, I’m going to keep pushing. “
He added: “It’s also up to the other teams what they choose. They know I’m available, so let’s see what happens. “
Next up is the return of the Chinese Grand Prix from April 19-21, which is also the first weekend of the season. You can watch any and all live queries on Sky Sports F1 and stream any and all F1 races and more with a NOW Sports Month subscription: no contract, cancel anytime
Stream Sky Sports live without a contract with a one-month or one-day subscription NOW. Instant live action from the Premier League, EFL, F1, England cricket, tennis and much more.