Gasly trying to convince Sainz to join Alpine

BUDAPEST : Pierre Gasly has been trying to convince Carlos Sainz to join him at Renault-owned Alpine but the Frenchman said on Thursday he was waiting for a decision like everyone else in Formula One.

Spaniard Sainz is leaving Ferrari at the end of the season to make way for seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton and has been assessing his options for months as the key to the driver market.

"I think Alpine, the team has good options on the table," Gasly told reporters at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

"At the end of the day, it's not up to me. I welcome the fastest guy out there. We all know who it is. But then, yeah, I mean, at the moment, we've got to wait. But yeah, the team has three good options."

Asked if he had spoken to Sainz, Gasly replied: "I did my fair share of the job, but ultimately I believe in the projects we're building with Alpine and I always back the team up. Now it's up to him to make his own decision."

Alpine, who won titles as Benetton and then Renault, have a vacancy to fill after announcing Frenchman Esteban Ocon was leaving at the end of the year.

They already have Jack Doohan, son of MotoGP great Mick, as reserve who could also be promoted while Mick Schumacher is in their world endurance squad and looking for a return.

Sauber and Williams are also interested in Sainz, although the latter's enthusiasm may have waned given the Spaniard's apparent reluctance to sign for the longer-term at a team currently ninth of 10.

Sauber, who will become Audi in 2026, are last while Alpine are eighth.

Sainz jokingly told reporters that he was closer to a decision but had been busy watching Spain win the European Championship soccer tournament.

More seriously, he doubted his decision would affect those also waiting to