With the announcement of Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari for the 2025 season, the Formula 1 landscape is facing a major remodeling. Carlos Sainz, current driver of the Italian team, is in the difficult situation of having to give up his seat and look for another team for next season.
While rumors and speculation place him here and there, Carlos Oñoro, Sainz’s manager and cousin, has assured that the Spanish driver has several options on the table, although he has decided to keep the details of the ongoing negotiations secret.
Speaking recently on the F1 Nation podcast, Oñoro described this period as particularly “interesting”, reflecting the volatile nature of the driver market today. “He has a few, a few,” he has said about Sainz’s options.
Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes opens a possible space for Sainz, while the Audi project, which is preparing for a transition year with Sauber, also sees him as a key piece. However, the driver’s representative insists that they are still “playing” and evaluating the best options for the future.
This serial, however, could be resolved relatively soon. Oñoro mentioned in the interview that there will be no important news before the Miami Grand Prix: “You can sleep well between China and Miami, don’t worry. There will be no big news, at least coming from us.”
Therefore, it could be that starting next Sunday, May 5, details will begin to be known about the future of Sainz, who thanks to the results obtained at Ferrari – this season he has managed to beat the relentless Max Verstappen on one occasion and is fourth. in the general classification – has become a very appetizing driver.
One of the most likely destinations for Sainz is Audi and Helmut Marko, Red Bull advisor, has revealed that the new team, which will join Formula 1 in 2026, has extended a tempting offer to Sainz.
According to Marko, the German team has offered him a three-year contract to lead its new lineup, which will begin its journey in F1 through the current Sauber structure, which will be renamed Stake. This news comes just after Audi confirmed the addition of Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg as its first official driver.
Audi’s offer seems solid and represents an opportunity for Sainz to take a leading role in an ambitious project. “Sainz is in a great moment, I think he has a very good offer from Audi for three years, but he has to make a decision relatively soon,” Marko slipped in an interview with OE24.
Although Sainz’s decision is eagerly awaited, Marko has made it clear that Red Bull, which is also evaluating the market, “will not allow itself to be pressured” and will continue to consider other options without haste. But it does not seem that Sainz is going to end up in the energy drink team: “The offer presented by Audi cannot be matched.”
