Carlos Sainz on Ferrari wish list

Spaniard Carlos Sainz is reportedly on the wish list of Ferrari, who's 2018 line-up is in doubt. Both Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen are out of contract, and while it seems likely that Vettel will sign an extension, uncertainty lingers over the future of Raikkonen.

Raikkonen's future has been in doubt ever since 2015 when Ferrari attempted to move for Williams' Valtteri Bottas. An expensive buyout clause prevented the deal from happening, but it could be that at the end of this season, Ferrari decides to take a different path.

Carlos Sainz is a name that is frequently linked to the seat, along with Sergio Perez and Romain Grosjean. Sainz says that the interest from the Maranello based team is nice, but states he owes an awful lot to the Red Bull system.

"Thank you, because it's a list every driver wants to be on, but I owe a lot to Red Bull," Sainz said. "For me there are not enough places for all the good drivers in F1. Look at Fernando (Alonso). I'm not asking for all cars to be the same, but if Carlos Sainz does a perfect weekend, he cannot be on the podium. But as long as I am a Toro Rosso driver I will not lose hope of going up to Red Bull, so I will keep giving everything to try."

Asked if he could be staying for a fourth year at Toro Rosso, he said: "I don't think about it yet, it's too soon and for me it's necessary to leave all the doors open. But I will also never close the door or the opportunity to continue one more year because for the moment I am very happy here."

Fergal Walsh