Jun.23 (GMM) Carlos Sainz is now mere days away from saying the identification of his new System 1 crew for 2025 and past.
In line with a supply within the Spanish media, the departing Ferrari driver won’t make his choice between Williams and Audi-Sauber on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday – however he’ll make it virtually instantly after that.
“I’ll notify my rivals who’re affected by the choice, I’m a superb man,” the 29-year-old smiled, after Kevin Magnussen earlier this weekend described Sainz because the “cork within the bottle” of the motive force market stand-still.
“I simply want a few days at residence,” Sainz added.
Williams boss James Vowles has made a robust pitch to draw Sainz, reportedly providing him a four-year contract with loads of driver-sided choices and a gorgeous pay package deal.
However the long-term nature and pay construction supplied by Audi-owned Sauber could also be much more enticing.
“He is likely one of the drivers we spoke with,” Sauber crew consultant Alessandro Alunni Bravi advised Sky Italia in Barcelona. “He might carry us expertise, motivation and pace.
“However for us, we’d like a driver who could make a long-term dedication. The choice is shut, but it surely’s not simply Carlos, we’ve additionally spoken with different drivers.”
It’s believed Alpine’s Pierre Gasly could possibly be an alternative choice for Audi.
“We would like drivers who’re with us from the start for this lengthy journey, and clearly now the choice is getting nearer. We have to begin engaged on the automotive and subsequent yr’s drivers is a vital component,” Bravi added.
“I feel somebody like Carlos, like Nico Hulkenberg who we’ve already signed, can carry us lots, however there are additionally different drivers available on the market with the traits we would like.
“So I don’t solely need to discuss Carlos as a result of that will not be respectful in direction of all the opposite drivers we’re speaking about.”
New Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore on Saturday indicated that the Renault manufacturing facility crew can be comfortable to re-sign Gasly, however the 28-year-old French driver is just not fairly able to commit.
“It’s an ongoing course of,” stated Gasly. “The market may be very clear proper now. There are conversations and it’s evolving. I don’t need to discuss an excessive amount of till it’s determined and introduced.”
Gasly is just not ruling out that Alpine might make a giant step ahead for 2025.
“In the event you have a look at McLaren or Aston, and all the things they’ve executed in recent times, modifications for the higher are doable,” he stated. “Every scenario is exclusive.
“I see many optimistic modifications within the crew and the manufacturing facility, though they don’t essentially translate straight into higher efficiency on the observe.”
In the meantime, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff denies that Kimi Antonelli’s F1 debut subsequent yr in Lewis Hamilton’s place is ready in stone.
“There isn’t any rush to place him in an F1 automotive,” he advised Sky Italia.
“He’s doing System 2, he’s studying and he has been testing with us, however in the mean time we nonetheless don’t need to decide on the second seat for 2025.”
