Carlos Sainz is at the centre of a three-team battle as he decides what his post-Ferrari future will look like. Sainz has known since the winter that he would be losing his seat to Lewis Hamilton.
Audi have been determined to sign him from the outset. They will enter F1 in 2026 when they assume control of the Sauber team, and Sainz would be the ideal A-list signing to announce their arrival.
The German giants recruited Nico Hulkenberg from Haas, but it’s been far more difficult to convince the Spaniard. That’s despite the fact they’ve tabled a lucrative contract even world champions Red Bull couldn’t match.
Sauber are bottom of the constructors’ championship without a single point to their name. That means that 2025 would likely be a year of pain, and even then it’s unclear how long Audi will need to establish themselves in the sport.
Williams, with two points on the board, are only one spot ahead. But James Vowles has told Sainz that they’ll be more competitive in the next couple of years.
That just leaves Alpine, who are becoming an increasingly prominent suitor. They have made an improved offer to Sainz as they seek to pair him with the newly-resigned Pierre Gasly.
Audi demand that Carlos Sainz signs three-year deal
According to Auto Motor und Sport journalist Michael Schmidt, speaking on the Formel Schmidt podcast, Audi aren’t budging on the framework of their offer. It’s not ‘possible’ for them to raise the highly competitive salary proposal.
The real sticking point, though, is the length of the contract. Audi are demanding that Sainz sign for three years as a show of faith in their project.
Given that they’re an unknown quantity, the 29-year-old would be more inclined to sign a shorter contract. That’s exactly what Williams are offering.
BBC journalist Andrew Benson has previously suggested that Sainz is unlikely to receive an offer from a top F1 team in the future. The likes of Mercedes and Red Bull have made their feelings clear by not signing him for next season.
“Audi has made it very clear that they are not deviating from their conditions,” Schmidt said. “They have offered him a very good salary, so to improve that is not possible.
“They are not moving away from the three-year contract either. He has to show trust in this project, that’s important. What Williams is doing to tell him that you can leave after two years if you don’t like it here.”
What Toto Wolff has said about Mercedes talks with Sainz
When Sainz first lost his seat, he would likely have been optimistic about his chances of remaining at the front of the grid. After all, he was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a Grand Prix in 2023.
The Bulls themselves had a potential vacancy alongside Max Verstappen, with Sergio Perez out of contract. But Jos Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Sr had a fractious relationship during their sons’ rookie campaigns at Toro Rosso, and Christian Horner didn’t want to risk a repeat.
As for Mercedes, Toto Wolff admits Mercedes progressed ‘far’ into talks with the 22-time podium finisher. They were discussing what a contract might look like, but in the end they decided to walk away.
They wanted to give Kimi Antonelli time to develop before making a decision, and they were also wary of closing the door on Verstappen. This has left Sainz, one of the top drivers in the sport, choosing between three of the bottom four teams in the championship.
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