Carlos Sainz has poured cold water on recent media reports claiming he has signed a contract for the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Sainz, currently driving for Ferrari, is a hot property on the driver market with his contract expiring at the end of 2024. Sauber/Audi and Williams are the frontrunners vying for his signature, with doors officially closed at Red Bull and likely shut at Mercedes too.
The Spanish media went into overdrive on Thursday, speculating Sainz had already made his choice and signed a contract. However, the driver himself finds these reports amusing and concerning at the same time.
“The only thing I can tell you is there is nothing locked in,” Sainz clarified. He expressed frustration at the lack of accountability for false media claims regarding his future. “It makes me laugh… I remember seeing reports three months ago that I had signed for Mercedes or Red Bull. Now they say Williams.”
Sainz emphasized that while he appreciates the options available for 2025, the major regulation changes coming in 2026 make it difficult to predict which team will be most successful in the long run.
“For me, 2025 is equally important [as 2026],” Sainz said. “2026 is a lottery, any team could be successful or not. Even the top teams might struggle.”
With Red Bull announcing a contract extension with Sergio Perez this week, Sainz confirmed he was already aware he wouldn’t be moving there. “Nothing new for me,” he remarked. “Still, plenty of options on the table.”
Despite potentially missing out on a top seat despite his race-winning performances for Ferrari, Sainz remains pragmatic about the realities of F1. “There’s no real frustration,” he stated. “It’s Formula 1, there are many factors at play beyond just driver performance.”
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