Despite having a very good start to his 2024 F1 season, Carlos Sainz Jr. is still in the midst of finalizing his future and he seems to be in no rush to do so.
Ahead of the Miami GP weekend, Spanish journalist/presenter Antonio Lobato took to Twitter to suggest that Sainz had allegedly not given an answer to Audi by a date that was required.
Lobato also suggested that Audi will announce Nico Hülkenberg’s teammate for 2025 in the near future.
When asked about these claims on media day that he had turned down the Audi offer, the Spaniard categorically refuted them.
“That’s not correct. There’s no truth about it, no. Nothing to add.”
Sainz also pointed out that negotiations, and perhaps the driver market movement, might not depend entirely on himself. And, while he has to wait, the talks will continue to go on.
“As I’ve said before, you know, there are certain things that they don’t depend fully on myself. And there’s going to be some waiting to be done.
“But in the meantime, it’s not like I’m or we are completely stopped. And we are still in conversations with people and advancing what we can advance. All those things, always including the waiting that, as I said before, we’re going to need to do to people to make up their minds in many areas.”
The Scuderia Ferrari driver was asked whether his father’s ties with Audi holds any weight to his own decision making about his future, and he responded positively.
Sainz goes on the record to say that his father will only “say good things about Audi.”
“The project and how confident he [Carlos Sainz Sr] is that Audi will make it to the top in Formula 1.
“And if you follow the Volkswagen projects, every time they’ve been involved in motorsports — doesn’t matter if it’s with Porsche, with Audi or any of the Volkswagen group. They’ve managed to win and I think that’s a very important asset. And something very important to consider.”
The key ability to win is something that is naturally something Sainz is keeping in his mind while deciding his future. He has gotten the taste for it in F1 since 2022, taking out 3 Grand Prix wins.
“But in my decision and obviously in everything there’s a lot more factors involved. I really hope Audi in the future can fight for the win. Because it would just mean one more car fighting for wins.
“And a massive brand like they [Audi] are, I wish them the best without even having decided if that’s a possibility for me or not.”
While talking about his potential future employers, Carlos Sainz also goes in depth about his requirements.
“I think like any other employee in any other company — just the full support, full backing of the company. Allowing me to extract the best out of myself.”
Sainz adamantly suggested a “medium term project” would provide an assured stability for present and the future.
“A good medium term project, that allows me to focus not only in the today and now, but also on the medium term future. And just good people around me […] And that’s why you need to keep all the options open for the moment.”
Audi has, as mentioned earlier, started taking decisions about the driver line-up. One of the seats is already taken by Nico Hülkenberg, the question remains about the second.
Sainz re-affirmed that, although he does not have any assurance from Audi about willing to wait, he wants to put himself first while taking this decision.
“No, the only assurance that I have is from myself that I want to take the right decision. And that’s why it’s also taking a bit longer. And that’s why I want to see all the options available before taking any fundamental decision.”
Carlos Sainz could be referring to the empty seat at Mercedes or the possibility of getting a Red Bull drive should they decide to remove Sergio Perez. It goes along with his aforementioned desire to win.
