Carlos Sainz talks about his chances now that Mattia Binotto has been named as Audi F1 boss, with decision still not firm.
The questions to Ferrari’s Sainz continue on for yet another F1 weekend but thankfully there will be some respite for three weeks for summer break. The latest came at Spa-Francorchamps, with fresh content about Mattia Binotto signing up with Sauber/Audi.
That provided fresh angle to the complicated Sainz case, who is still figuring out his best option from among Mercedes, Sauber/Audi, Alpine and Williams. There has been links put in place for a surprise Red Bull move too, if they go wild to replace Sergio Perez.
Considering his past association with Binotto at Ferrari, there will be every chance that the Italian pushes on to get the Spaniard. But for now, Sainz is not giving it a certain-to-happen thing where his prior relation with someone will decide his fate.
It is a simple case of waiting game but there is no chance of a sabbatical as of now. He will be on the grid as he notes, but there is no timeframe as to what and when he decides. And he is not going to give it away if it will be done during the summer break.
Binotto in Audi, chances –
Sainz: “I think, first of all, I’m not up to date with everything that is going on at every team but of course I think the arrival of Mattia to any team is positive, mainly because he has the experience of what it takes to build a team that is a top team nowadays, like it is at Ferrari. And he has that experience from Ferrari that he can bring into Audi. And I’m sure it’s a great asset for them. And that’s why they hired him. And yeah, of course, I wish him all the best there. I think my future is still being discussed and obviously analysed very carefully. And there’s changes to a lot of teams that I’m looking at for next year pretty much every week. So there’s changes, evolution on the team market as much as there is on the driver market. And I’m just going to keep giving myself time to take the decision to analyse all these things that keep changing. without giving you too many clues here.”
Best option –
Sainz: “My best option for next year would be a championship-winning car, which has been my number one priority since these talks about my future have happened. And the likelihood of that, we all know that is small, but that’s always been my target. And if that doesn’t happen, I’ll choose what’s best for my near future, for sure. (Who’s going to win?) I need to go and check, see what’s out there!”
Sabbatical –
Sainz: “Absolutely no, sabbatical is not even in my head. I’m happy in Formula 1, I love Formula 1 and I would rather go down to a midfield team and use my skill, in the peak of my career, to try and help a midfield team to find the right way than taking a year off or being third driver for anyone, you know. I’m competitive and I know I can still bring to a midfield team that side of me.”
Timeframe, summer break –
Sainz: “Do you honestly think I’m going to answer that question? After all this time, I’m now going to tell you if I’m going to decide tomorrow or in five days or before the summer break? I cannot honestly give you the answer, and I cannot answer that question. It’s as simple as that. I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s going to be before or after the summer break. I don’t know.”
Here’s Carlos Sainz and others in Hungary
Here’s last on the driver market from Silverstone
Here’s these F1 drivers statements from Austria
Here’s link to a F1 Discord channel, join in to interact
