Carlos Sainz has dismissed reports that he has signed with Williams for 2025, although the team's boss seems quite optimistic.
The Ferrari outcast has been the focal point of the F1 driver 'silly season' this year, considering offers from Williams, Sauber-Audi, and Alpine while hoping for a top team chance with Mercedes or Red Bull.
The latter options now seem unlikely, while Alpine is in disarray and even dismantling its works Formula 1 engine program. "There are too many problems," lamented current Alpine driver Pierre Gasly on Sunday.
"The steering wheel wasn't even straight on the car. We lost 7 tenths every lap with engine temperature problems and there were too many mistakes over the last three weekends."
"It's going to be very important to pull ourselves together during this summer break," Gasly told Canal Plus. "We're going to have to talk together and resolve these problems very quickly."
Sainz is also thought to be deterred by the managerial chaos at Audi, with the German manufacturer's team Sauber still yet to score a single point in 2024.
However, Williams is only 4 points ahead of Sauber. "We haven't had anything new all year," said the team's current driver Alex Albon. "We're so far behind the pack."
"Hopefully we'll be more competitive after the break."
Nonetheless, Williams boss James Vowles' vision for the future and his willingness to provide Sainz with top-team exit clauses appear to have swayed the 29-year-old.
Sainz's father, Carlos Sainz Sr., and cousin Carlos Onoro Sainz, who also co-manages Sainz's career, were seen leaving a meeting with Vowles at Spa last Friday.
But is it a done deal for 2025? "No, I'm not with any team yet and I haven't announced anything," Sainz told Sky Deutschland after the Belgian GP.
"I'm looking forward to the summer break, having some time for myself and hearing this question again - like every weekend for the last six months," the Ferrari driver smiled.
Vowles, however, remains very confident. "More than 50 percent," the Williams boss told reporters on Sunday when asked about the likelihood of securing Sainz's signature.
"I would say the odds are on our side, but I've said that once this year, so we'll see."
Vowles confirmed that Williams' main competitor for securing Sainz is Renault-owned Alpine. "Carlos has one of the biggest brands in the world wanting him and that's hard to turn down, especially as - let's be honest - they've beaten us recently.
"It's a tough thing to turn down. They won a race not too long ago and I can see the perspective," he added. "He said to me that when he commits, he has to do it with all his heart and soul, and cannot have any doubts. That's why he's taking his time and that resonated a lot with me," said Vowles.
When asked if a deal could be announced within a week, he concluded: "In principle, yes."
But when asked the same question late on Sunday, Sainz answered: "I don't know, I can't say. It's time to rest during these holidays - that's what matters," he told DAZN.
