Sainz ‘working for the future’ and fully focused on 2024

The news of Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari at the end of 2024 sent F1 into a frenzy, but its principal victim, Carlos Sainz, says he’s focused on ending his stint with the Scuderia with a bang.

The Spaniard is considered as a strong candidate to fill Hamilton’s vacant seat at Mercedes for 2025 or replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull, while the 29-year-old’s name is also often linked to Sauber’s Audi project that will come to fruition in 2026.

Speaking to the media for the first time since last week’s shock news, Sainz mentioned that his management team and himself are already weighing their options for next year.

“I’m fine, I’m calm, we’re working for the future but above all for that that we have ahead of us, a very important year, my last year with the team and I want to do the best I can,” Sainz told Sky Sports.

“I’m training to prepare as best I can and give everything.”

• Read also: Villeneuve doubts Sainz will play the team game at Ferrari

It was speculated that Sainz had been kept in the dark by Ferrari over his fate. However, he dispelled that notion.

“From the inside I knew and saw things before all of you, I was prepared,” he added. “But I want to think only about this season, about doing my best for Ferrari in this championship.”

The curtain will close on his Ferrari chapter at the end of the year, but Sainz isn't finished writing his story in F1.

“I am a driver who every year has become stronger and stronger, I have not taken steps backwards but only forwards in my career and I am continuing to grow,” he added.

“This year I will turn 30 but I feel younger and more motivated than ever.

“I know what my value is as a driver and I know that there will be good things in the future but this year I want to do my best with Ferrari.”

With Hamilton's arrival looming, Sainz approaches his last season with Ferrari with an understandable tinge of uncertainty.

But he expects the feeling of unease to dissipate when the adrenalin kicks in in Bahrain later this month.

“Knowing that it will be the last year with a team is not the most normal thing to start a new season but as soon as I put on my helmet in Bahrain and get on the track, you can be sure that I will only think about going as fast as possible,” he said.

“And if there is the chance to become World Champion I will try to take it.”

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