SILVERSTONE, England — Carlos Sainz stated the self-imposed delay on committing to a contract for 2025 and past has turn out to be a distraction, however insisted it’s not having a damaging impression on his performances.

Sainz, who is about to get replaced at Ferrari by Lewis Hamilton in 2025, remains to be weighing up contract presents from Alpine, Williams and Audi, who’re within the strategy of taking up the Sauber crew.

The Hamilton information was confirmed on the finish of January and several other months of hypothesis about Sainz have adopted with out decision.

The Spaniard, described final month by Kevin Magnussen as “the cork within the bottle” by way of how he is holding up different driver market strikes, has stated he’ll give himself as a lot time as doable to decide.

When requested how a lot time the method was taking on away from the racetrack, Sainz stated: “Actually, quite a bit. I am not going to lie.

“Monday to Thursdays earlier than I get to the observe there’s lots of cellphone calls, lots of time spent on the cellphone, conferences with my administration crew but in addition the groups I am speaking to, attempting to know and attempting to have a full image of the scenario.

“It is most likely fairly nerve-racking and time consuming as an alternative of possibly having the ability to totally disconnect and recharge. Clearly your thoughts remains to be elsewhere and excited about your future and questioning what it is going to be. So not an excellent scenario.”

Earlier than Ferrari, Sainz drove at Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri), Renault and McLaren, however typically identified how he struggled in conditions when he didn’t have a long-term contract, and has stated contractual stability has all the time been key.

Sainz admitted he nonetheless thinks that’s the case however pointed to his latest outcomes as proof that he’s managing to maintain his thoughts on the prize when he is at an F1 circuit.

“Once I arrive on Thursday I really feel like I will carry out as quickly as I get into an engineering assembly. As quickly as I put the helmet on I really feel 100% within the automotive. I believe the Austria weekend sort of proves that I am nonetheless at a excessive degree and acting at one in every of my greatest seasons in System One.

“However as I all the time stated I am not going to be a hypocrite. I imagine there’s all the time extra efficiency in being in a secure contract scenario than being the place I’m at now, so I am by no means going to disclaim myself that what I’ve stated all the time.”

Sainz’s three choices are underwhelming for a driver who has gained three races for Ferrari and established himself as one of many grid’s greatest skills.

All three seem like poor choices within the quick time period, however may need massive upsides down the road.

With the Ferrari driver seemingly resigned to some ache within the quick time period, he stated followers ought to reserve judgement over no matter he lastly decides to do till it has had time to play out on observe.

“There is a little bit of guessing, a little bit of luck, a little bit of attempting to coach your self on what is occurring round in System One,” he stated. “What I’ve considered is do not choose the transfer within the quick time period or within the subsequent few races or within the subsequent yr.

“You all the time have to see and criticise or analyse a driver’s transfer with perspective in time. Was this the precise transfer for Carlos in 5 years time or not? That is why I believe I’ll take each time doable to make such an vital determination as a result of it entails the end result of the following few years of my life so I believe it’s legitimate to offer myself the time.”