After Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz now hopes he’ll get the chance to drive for Ferrari at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi.
On Thursday it was confirmed the governing body had given permission for Renault to run the double world champion, despite the test originally being intended for drivers with no more than two races of Formula 1 experience.
As a result, the French manufacturer is now expected to run two cars for the December 15 event, one for Alonso and another for F2 driver Guanyu Zhou.
Previously, however, the test has also provided an opportunity for drivers switching teams for the following year to get some early experience with their new colleagues.
And though it is reported FIA president Jean Todt only opened up the test to drivers who hadn’t competed in F1 this season, Sainz isn’t ruling out an early move to the Scuderia.
“I’m willing to test for Ferrari, I think it’s no secret, especially now the hand has been a bit opened by the FIA for drivers that are not rookies or not young drivers to test,” he said on Thursday.
“I don’t see why the FIA wouldn’t maybe open the hand a bit also to other drivers.
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“Personally I wouldn’t take any young driver out of the seat,” the Spaniard insisted. “I think Callum [Ilott], Mick [Schumacher], Robert [Shwartzman], I think they are all still going to test, if I jump into a Ferrari I’m not going to allow them not to test.
“I think Ferrari is one of the teams that are promoting young drivers the most right now, but I don’t think why I shouldn’t get the chance also to test.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, or the FIA, but you can tell I’m going to be there as much as I can.”
Ferrari has already revealed plans for a test in the 2019 car in January, but Sainz also confirmed his McLaren contract would allow him to test with his new employer before the end of the year.
As it stands currently, Shwartzman and Antonio Fuoco are expected to drive for Ferrari in Abu Dhabi.