Sainz discloses trust concerns in new F1 team hunt

Carlos Sainz has stated he has learned to trust very few people in the Formula 1 paddock as he negotiates over a drive for the 2025 campaign.

Sainz is searching for a new home after being ousted at Ferrari in favour of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The Spaniard has been heavily linked with the Williams and Stake/Audi projects, while RacingNews365 understands that Alpine is also an option for him.

Having had time to talk to interested parties, Sainz detailed he has learned a lot about the political environment of F1.

“The situation that I've been in this year has made me learn a lot about F1 in general,” Sainz told media including RacingNews365.

“By talking to teams, it has shown me how tough the sport is, how little sometimes you have to believe what people say at the beginning of negotiations and conversations and mainly also to trust very little people in the paddock.

“It’s a very political sport, there are a lot of things like this involved. It's made me understand that, it's a very tough sport in that sense. I understand the better picture of F1 without going too much into detail.“

Sainz hints at delayed decision

Sainz stated he has taken a deep study into the state of his prospective teams in order to determine their position in the future of the sport.

“From the other teams, obviously, I've learned a lot in which position they are in, and the teams that I am potentially moving to next year, I've obviously ducking a lot into the state they are [in] and the situation.

“It's also made me probably have a better understanding of F1, [who] each team is and where they are.”

Having previously suggested he wanted to clear up his future as soon as possible, Sainz hinted no decision would be taken before the end of the ongoing triple-header of races.

“It's obviously not the right time,” he said. 

“Probably a triple-header isn't the right time to go back home and take the decision with my team, put all the options in front of the table and think carefully about what's best for me for my future for my career.”