Carlos Sainz signs contract with new F1 team as announcement expected soon

06 June 2024 , 16:05

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Carlos Sainz is said to have made a final decision over his future (Image: Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Carlos Sainz has reportedly made a final decision over his next Formula 1 team.

Sainz plays a key role in this year's especially volatile driver market. Ever since it was announced that he would lose his Ferrari seat, having been replaced for next season by Lewis Hamilton, the Spaniard's future has been subject to intense speculation.

He started the season strongly which led to the 29-year-old being linked with the top available seats. Reports suggested he could be in the frame to replace Hamilton at Mercedes, or rejoin his old Red Bull employer with Sergio Perez potentially missing out.

But those routes have now been blocked. Red Bull handed Perez a new two-year deal this week and, although Mercedes have yet to make a decision over their own vacancy, Sainz is not believed to be a front-runner for the seat.

He has been patient and deliberate in his thinking in recent weeks. But, according to Spain's The Objective, Sainz has now made his final decision and has put pen to paper on a contract with his new team.

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However, the publication admits it is not sure which team he has signed with. Mirror Sport understands his most likely destinations are Sauber - he has been courted for many months by Audi over their new F1 project - and Williams.

Audi were the front-runners for his signature for a long time. However, in recent weeks it feels as though momentum has swung in Williams' direction with F1's sleeping giants keen to sign a driver of Sainz's experience and calibre to replace the struggling Logan Sargeant.

Whichever options he has plumped for, fans won't have to wait long to find out. The report from Spain claims the announcement will be made before F1 arrives in Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix later this month.

Speaking ahead of last month's Monaco Grand Prix, Sainz said he was yet to make a final decision at that point but said things were likely to move swiftly once he had. He told reporters: "I haven't made my mind up yet and I don't know where I'm going to be racing next year. I also haven't set any deadlines.

"It's such an important decision at this stage of my career that when I have options on the table I want to take the right one and think about it carefully because I'm about to turn 30 this year and I want to make the next project work and see how it goes. I can just tell you that once I've made my mind up, it will happen very quickly."

Daniel Moxon