Following the announcement that Esteban Ocon will depart Alpine, the Enstone-based team have emerged as a viable option for the former McLaren star in recent weeks.
Now, Ocon's team-mate Pierre Gasly has admitted he would love to team up with the three-time race winner, and revealed to media ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix that discussions between the pair have taken place.
When asked who he would like to team up with next season, the Frenchman said: “I said it already - I mean you know Alpine and the team has good options on the table.
“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.
“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 well yeah - you know ultimately I believe in the project we’re building with Alpine and I’ll always back the team up and now it’s up to him to make his own decision.”