Although Carlos Sainz is the number one priority at Audi for the 2025 season, they are yet to reach an agreement. The German brand is serious about its F1 project and is eager to assemble the best driver combination possible. Nico Hulkenberg is expected to form one-half of next season’s line-up. Reports in recent weeks and months have only confirmed that the interest between these two parties (established last year) persists.
CARLOS SAINZ IS IN HIGH DEMAND
The bigger question is who will partner the 36-year-old. Sainz is the main target, but Audi will not wait forever for a decision.
A factor often overlooked in F1 driver market discussions, though now receiving increased attention, is time pressure. Teams will have different timelines for finalising their driver selection for the upcoming season finalised. At Red Bull, for example, there is no rush to put pen to paper. Helmut Marko has outlined that a decision at Milton Keynes will not be made until the summer. In this sense, Sainz would risk missing out on opportunities elsewhere by waiting for the reigning Champions to make their final call.
TIME RUNNING OUT FOR SAINZ TO MAKE A DECISION SOON
Meanwhile, Audi wants a decision made sooner. Andreas Seidl, who has been appointed as CEO, is tasked with sorting out his driver selection before the summer. Audi would prefer for Sainz to make a commitment as soon as possible. They are unwilling to wait for several months, which other teams are prepared to do.
This presents Sainz with a dilemma. On the one hand, Audi enjoys the resources and financial firepower to become a serious player in Formula 1. Whilst they are not guaranteed to compete at the front in 2026, they are an outfit with serious ambition.
In addition, the German manufacturer is understood to have offered Sainz a very lucrative contract. Audi’s offer to Carlos Sainz (which was made months ago) is very lucrative – more than other teams have committed financially. Moreover, they have offered the Spaniard a multi-year deal – providing him the chance to join a team that sees him at the centre of their project.
For a driver who was somewhat caught off guard by Ferrari’s acquisition of Lewis Hamilton, this kind of security is valuable. It also seems unlikely that Red Bull or Mercedes, for various reasons, can match the longevity of Audi’s contract proposition.
Whilst all the conditions are clear, the ball is now in Sainz’s court. He has limited time to make a decision, however, with Audi pushing for a final verdict sooner rather than later. The three-time winner could realistically join the manufacturer team, but there are many moving parts in this equation.
