Pierre Gasly has been actively trying to persuade Carlos Sainz to join him at Alpine, the Renault-owned Formula One team. As the season progresses, Gasly, like the rest of the F1 community, awaits a final decision from Sainz.
Sainz is set to leave Ferrari at the end of the season to make way for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. With several options on the table, Sainz’s decision is a pivotal one in the driver market.
“I think Alpine has good options on the table,” Gasly shared with reporters at the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I welcome the fastest guy out there. We all know who it is. But at the moment, we’ve got to wait. The team has three good options.”
Alpine’s Vacancy and Potential Recruits
Alpine needs to fill a spot after announcing that Frenchman Esteban Ocon will be leaving at the end of the year. Gasly confirmed that he has spoken to Sainz about joining Alpine but stressed that the final decision lies with Sainz.
“I did my fair share of the job, but ultimately I believe in the projects we’re building with Alpine and I always back the team up. Now it’s up to him to make his own decision,” Gasly stated.
Alpine has other potential candidates, including Jack Doohan, the son of MotoGP legend Mick Doohan, who could be promoted from his reserve role. Mick Schumacher, part of their world endurance squad, is also looking for a return to F1.
Sainz’s Options and Considerations
Sauber and Williams have shown interest in Sainz. However, Williams’ enthusiasm might have waned due to Sainz’s apparent reluctance to commit long-term to a team currently ranked ninth out of ten. Sauber, set to become Audi in 2026, is currently last, while Alpine is eighth.
Sainz humorously told reporters he was closer to a decision but had been busy watching Spain win the European Championship soccer tournament. On a serious note, he expressed doubt that his decision would significantly impact others waiting to decide their futures.
“It’s only the timing that I’m changing, I’m not changing probably the outcome of anyone as probably all teams by now have their priorities and their decisions depending on each scenario,” Sainz added.
As the season unfolds, the F1 world watches closely to see where Sainz will go and how it will influence the dynamics of the driver market.
