Sainz’s manager says ‘we’re still playing the game’ as he gives update on the Spaniard’s F1 future

Carlos Sainz’s manager, Carlos Onoro, has shared the latest on their search for another seat in Formula 1, describing it as “an interesting period” amid plenty of talk about drivers’ futures up and down the grid.

Sainz has been forced to look elsewhere after Ferrari decided to sign Lewis Hamilton in his place from the 2025 campaign onwards, with Charles Leclerc also tied to the Scuderia for “several more seasons”.

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A strong start to the 2024 season has helped Sainz’s cause, the Spaniard claiming three podiums in four races and spectacularly winning the Australian Grand Prix on his return from surgery for appendicitis.

Having recently stated that he is in talks with “many teams”, his manager Onoro provided another update in an appearance on the F1 Nation podcast following last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.

Asked how many balls he is juggling at the moment, given how active the driver market has been, Onoro said: “A few, a few. Let’s say it’s an interesting period of time at the moment.

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“The driver market has been all over the place lately and I think we will see some movement in the upcoming weeks. But, for the moment, the juggling continues.”

Pushed on whether any news will arrive before the next race of the season, Onoro made clear: “No, no, no. You can sleep well between China and Miami, don’t worry.”

He signed off from the conversation: “There will be no big news, at least coming from us – for sure not. We’re still playing the game, so we’ll see.”

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Following Onoro’s comments, it was announced that Nico Hulkenberg would join Kick Sauber for 2025 – the Swiss team, who will become the Audi works squad from 2026, believed to be one of the organisations on the grid keen on securing Sainz’s signature for next year.