Alpine have entered the race to sign Carlos Sainz for 2025, sources have confirmed to ESPN.
Ahead of his home Spanish Grand Prix there were reports Sainz and Williams were about to confirm a deal, but that never materialised.
Sainz had been weighing up the prospect of driving for Williams or Audi, which is in the process of taking over the Sauber team in time for 2026.
Sources have told ESPN that Alpine has now entered the race with a very appealing offer. It is understood the Ferrari driver is still seriously considering all three options in front of him.
Another source told ESPN that the Williams offer would give Sainz more flexibility in terms of contract length and when he would be able to move on to another team, which might ultimately be the decisive factor given the opportunities in front of him.
On Sunday evening, Sainz was asked if his future will be sorted by the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend.
"It could be," he said. "Not for sure, but it could be."
Alpine have had a difficult recent time of things in F1 but enjoyed its strongest weekend of the season at the Circuit de Catalunya, with Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon scoring points in 9th and 10th.
Sainz drove for the Alpine team when it was Renault for half of the 2017 season and in 2018.
The French team made headlines ahead of the Barcelona race by bringing back former team boss Flavio Briatore, once handed a lifetime ban for his role in the 2008 Crashgate scandal, as executive advisor.
Sainz's father, Carlos Sainz Sr., who is a double World Rally Champion, talked with Briatore at the Alpine hospitality ahead of Sunday's race.
The 29-year-old's decision is delaying other moves being made around the F1 grid.
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen said Sainz was the "cork in the bottle" for him and other drivers waiting to confirm their next moves.
