Ferrari chose to let Sainz leave after signing Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes for the next season, but the Spaniard’s blistering start to 2024 has made him the standout free agent in a competitive driver market.
Mercedes is looking for a replacement for Hamilton, while Red Bull has stated that they are talking to Sainz about racing alongside world champion Max Verstappen in 2025, with Sergio Perez’s contract expiring at the end of the season.
Fernando Alonso had also been connected with those seats, as well as retirement, but the two-time world champion recently signed a contract extension with Aston Martin, ruling out another possible alternative for Sainz.
“I think for sure all my best options are still open, which I think is a good thing and something that obviously takes some time, given the market situation,” Sainz told Sky Sports F1 on Thursday, ahead of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.
“I think it’s going to take some time for everyone to make their own mind and their own decisions, but the good options are still open.”
Sainz has finished on the podium in all three races this season, and his triumph in Australia was particularly more spectacular given that it came just two weeks after he missed the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to an appendectomy.
Since his Ferrari exit was confirmed, Sainz has stated that his first aim in finding a new team is to stay in a car that allows him to compete for more race victories.
While Red Bull team president Christian Horner and Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff have both openly acknowledged Sainz’s form, only the former can promise a race-winning car in the near future.
Sainz’s triumph in Australia, combined with his win in Singapore last season, makes him the sole driver from another team to win a race since the beginning of 2023.
New regulations might entirely reset the pecking order in 2026, although Sainz’s admission that a race-winning car in 2025 would be “very appealing” hints he may be waiting for Red Bull.
“When I stated we had spoken with every team, I really meant it. That’s what I meant by “good options in terms of a race-winning [team],” Sainz explained.
“It all depends on the concessions, offers, and what everyone has to offer. There are plenty of wonderful possibilities available, which makes me happy and optimistic about my future.
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