Sainz opens up about stress over departure from Ferrari
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz said on Thursday he is suffering from stress because of the time-consuming task of finding a team for next season.
The Spaniard, who will replace seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari next year, said it is difficult to relax but he does not let the workload get to him during race weekends.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, the third of three races taking place on consecutive weekends, he explained just how difficult his situation has been.
“Monday through Thursday, before I even get to the track, I have to make a lot of phone calls, spend a lot of time on the phone, have meetings with my management team, and also with the teams I’m talking to, to try and understand the situation and get the full picture,” he said.
“It’s quite stressful and time-consuming. Instead of completely disconnecting and re-charging, my mind is still somewhere else thinking about my future and wondering what it will be like.
“So, it’s not an ideal situation. At the same time, when I get to Thursday, I feel like I’m able to perform as soon as I walk into the engineering meeting.
“As soon as I put the helmet on, I felt 100 percent in the car. The weekend in Austria proved that I am still at a very high level, and am having one of my best seasons.
“But as I’ve always said, I won’t be a hypocrite. I believe performance is always better in a stable contract situation, rather than staying where I am now.”
Sainz has been linked with Alpine, Williams and Sauber, which will become Audi in 2026 with a change in regulations.
“I haven’t thought about making a decision about this move in the short term, or in the next few races, or for next year,” Sainz said.
“You always have to look and analyse with perspective in mind – was this the right move for Carlos in five years or not?
“So I’m going to take as much time as I can to make such an important decision, because it involves the outcome of the next few years of my life. I think it’s appropriate for me to give myself time.”
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First Publication Date: July 05, 2024, 00:06 am IST