Carlos Sainz denies having said no to Audi
While the Spanish newspapers were claiming that Carlos Sainz had turned down an offer from Audi, the Spaniard was keen to deny it.
Carlos Sainz is obviously at the heart of the transfer market, involuntarily since it is Ferrari who decided to push him towards the exit when the possibility of signing Lewis Hamilton materialized. The only driver to have won a race other than the Red Bull drivers since Brazil 2022, the Spaniard knows that he enjoys a strong popularity rating in the paddock.
If she initially had many opportunities, she is slowly seeing them close one after the other. Therefore, Fernando Alonso’s contract extension prevents her from aiming for a position at Aston Martin due to the unmovable presence of the boss’s son.
This week, a first seat at Sauber/Audi was filled with the announcement of Nico Hülkenberg’s arrival. In the Miami paddock, the Spaniard thus underlined that he found this decision logical: « It makes perfect sense for Nico to sign there. He has proven that he is fast and I have congratulated him myself. It’s great for him and for them. We have seen what he is capable of doing at Haas at the moment. »
But before that, the first question asked during the traditional press conference organized by the team was about the rumors that he had turned down an offer from Audi: “No, what was said about Audi is not true.” One of the key elements of this case obviously concerns his father, who is a driver for the German manufacturer. The son thus highlighted all the good things his father thinks about: “It is certain that my father will always speak well of Audi, their project, and he is convinced that Audi will reach the top of Formula 1. If you look at all the Volkswagen projects, every time they have been involved in motorsport, whether with Porsche, Audi, or any other brand of the Volkswagen group, they have always managed to win.”
If the deal is not yet finalized, it is because the Spaniard hopes to land another big seat. Indeed, the possibility of returning to the fold is still not ruled out since he could take advantage of a possible departure of Max Verstappen or if Sergio Perez’s performances were to once again not meet expectations. Likewise, he is still a candidate for a seat at Mercedes but the duration of the contract seems to be a sticking point.
He explains why he hasn’t announced anything yet: “I have not received any assurance that I can rely on, but I want to be sure to make the right decision. That’s why it’s taking a little longer, and I want to see all the available options before making a final decision.”
It would be paradoxical that by aiming for the moon, he ends up on the bench. But there is still little chance that it will end like that.
From our special correspondent in Miami
