Sainz: No movement on future until Ricciardo signs

Carlos Sainz Jr. will not make a final decision on his Formula 1 future until Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo resolves his own plans for 2019.

Sainz is currently on loan at Renault from Red Bull this season, with the team retaining an option on him for next year in case of a Ricciardo departure.

However, with the Australian looking almost certain to sign a contract extension at Red Bull, Sainz's own future has become a talking point, with Renault understood to hold interest in bringing Esteban Ocon to the team to partner Nico Hulkenberg.

Sainz is eager to sign a two-year deal regardless of where he ends up, but is doubtful that he will get anything agreed until Ricciardo makes a final decision on his future.

"Nothing has been announced recently. Nothing has changed from my contractual situation together with Red Bull and Renault," Sainz said.

"Until those two parties don’t move and they don’t know what Ricciardo is doing etc., my situation still doesn't change."

"My priority is to find a place that I’m comfortable with. I’ve already spoken about a two-year deal. First my priority is what Red Bull and Ricciardo are doing and then myself, together with my management team, we'll find the solution, I'm sure."

Sainz worked hard to push through a deal to join Renault for 2019, even signing with the team four races early at the end of last season, but could be set to leave the operation after just a single season if Ocon were to arrive and partner Hulkenberg.

Asked if he felt disappointed the team did not appear to be fighting very hard to keep him, Sainz said: "Nothing has happened, not yet, so I cannot be disappointed or happy about the decision that they have taken because nothing really has yet occurred.

"As you all know, I did push hard last year to join this team because I have a lot of confidence in the project, in the team, and from what I know the management and everyone is happy with my performance and how things are going."