The Future of Carlos Sainz is one of the hottest topics in the Formula 1 market. The Madrid-born driver is out of contract with Williams and stands at a crossroads: staying with the English team offers no guarantees, but there don’t seem to be many enticing seats available either. One option could have been Audi, but that path has become more troubled than ever.
Mattia Binotto, the head of Audi, has addressed the rumors surrounding Carlos Sainz. The Italian has been blunt: they do not want to sign him. Binotto acknowledges that at one point he pursued Sainz and understands that the Spaniard’s interest signals that the Audi project shows promise, but he believes it’s already too late, according to Motorsport.
Audi wants to continue with Hülkenberg and Bortoleto
There is much speculation about what Carlos Sainz’s future in Formula 1 will be. Well, there is one destination we can rule out: Mattia Binotto has ruled out Sainz signing for Audi. The head of the German brand denies any interest in Sainz, though in the past they did attempt to recruit him.
Binotto asserts that the rumors “show that he has now realized we can be competitive”, but regards it as too late to sign Sainz. Binotto admits that “I know Carlos very well and we did try. That’s why it’s very easy now to link him to Audi, but I’m happy with what we have.”
Binotto attempted to recruit Sainz for Audi throughout 2024, after it became known that Ferrari had signed Lewis Hamilton. However, despite Audi’s higher financial offer and his father’s advice, Carlos Sainz chose Williams, which at the moment is the second-worst car in Formula 1 and shows no signs of improvement.
The Audi plan at that time was to pair Sainz with Nico Hülkenberg, the team’s veteran German driver. After Sainz’s rejection, Audi signed the young Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, who has been performing perfectly, and logically now Audi does not want to part with either its young prospect or its veteran German to make room for Sainz.
“People say that Nico and Gabriel form a good blend of youth and experience, but I disagree. They are two very fast drivers, and that is what makes them a strong lineup,” says Binotto. So the Italian feels flattered that other drivers are being linked to them, which he says shows that the credibility of their project has improved, but his stance remains firm.
Audi trusts Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto to remain as their drivers in 2027. Carlos Sainz will have to look elsewhere.
Images | Formula 1, Audi
