SEPANG, Malaysia -- Carlos Sainz says he is proud to have interest from Renault for next year but says he is in no rush to leave Toro Rosso.
Sainz is contracted to Toro Rosso for 2017, but has been linked to a Renault drive if a deal can be struck between Red Bull and the French manufacturer, which will also supply engines to both teams next year. Sainz said he welcomed the interest from Renault but would not be drawn on what it means for the future of his career.
"There has been some interest and contacts which for me is an honour that a manufacturer team is worried about me and wants to know my contractual situation," he said. "As you know, more or less what is going on with Red Bull they guide your career, they paid for five years of my junior series, which is millions of euros and I perfectly understand they don't want to let me go having spent so much money on me and me being in the best moment of my career and then just let me go.
"It is an honour to have interest from a manufacturer team that wants me to develop the car and create good base for the future. My main target and objective is to in 2018 be fighting for the world championship and hopefully that will be with Red Bull. That is my main target and I know it is very difficult but the only thinking I want is for that to happen and I need to find the shortest way to that point."
Red Bull has Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen contracted to its senior team until 2018, putting a blocker on Sainz's career ambitions at the energy drink company. The Spaniard admits his future is ultimately in the hands of Helmut Marko, who runs the Red Bull junior programme, and says he is focused purely on getting results in the machinery available to him.
"I am aware of what they want me to be aware of. Of course I am aware a bit about what is going on but I don't know the details of what is happening because I am focused on this season and I don't want to think about my future when there are an important six races coming and because it is my job to be involved but it is more Helmut Marko and my management to sort out that stuff. My job is to drive as fast as possible.
"I am aware and it makes me proud that a manufacturer is interested in me, it is something every driver wants. It is difficult for a Toro Rosso driver to look somewhere else but in my situation I have other possibilities and it makes me proud and happy."
Asked directly to choose between Renault and Toro Rosso, Sainz said: "At the moment I have full trust in Toro Rosso that they are going to produce a good chassis for next year because if there was any doubt, Singapore proved Toro Rosso is probably the third or fourth best chassis on the grid. Even on a short straight in Singapore we were 12kph down but still qualifying P6, one second off a Red Bull. It shows the car is good and performs in cornering.
"As for Renault, I don't have enough information that they are going to perform next year or if it is going to take two years or three years. I don't have any feedback to know if they will be a top level next year or in three years' time."