Audi’s willing interest in Carlos Sainz adds a layer of urgency to the Formula 1 driver market as Sainz faces his imminent departure from Ferrari.
Carlos Sainz’s long career in Formula 1 remains dubious as his contract with Ferrari comes to an end. However, Audi has shown significant interest and is urging a quick fix from the Spanish driver, according to Red Bull’s Helmut Marko.
As the 2024 Formula 1 season progresses, Carlos Sainz finds himself at a professional crossroads, despite a winning streak that includes a first position at the Australian Grand Prix and several podiums. The recent announcement that the Spaniard will be repositioned by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari for the 2025 season has propelled the Spaniard into a whirlwind of hypotheses and interest from several top teams, adding to Audi, the newcomers poised to make their mark in Formula 1, thanks to his father’s ties to the brand.
Audi, which has a strong presence in the market in its first season, has expressed strong interest in Sainz’s services. Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko shed some light on the stage in a recent interview, revealing the pressure Audi is putting on the driver.
“There’s some time pressure,” he said, as quoted via GPBlog. “If we are well informed, then Audi is putting pressure on Sainz and they would like a reaction as soon as possible. “There is still no solution,” Marko said of the Milton Keynes team’s interest in getting the contract. This urgency denotes Audi’s strategic goal of identifying a competitive team from the start.
While Audi seems eager to finalise its line-up, Mercedes is also shaping up to be a conceivable destination for Sainz, looking to fill the void left by its seven-time world champion. In addition, Red Bull can be in the squad it deserves. They decide to update their driver line-up after Sergio Perez’s contract expires. However, Perez’s performance this season may simply temper the urgency of such changes after the Mexican driver’s remarkable performances so far this season.
Marko praised Perez’s contributions to the team@
“As long as Sergio is doing a smart task like he’s doing at the moment, it won’t be a challenge,” Marko confirmed.
To further complicate Sainz’s options, Marko pressed the need for forward-thinking strategic thinking within Red Bull, admitting that Perez’s long history with the team is not entirely certain, a normality at this level of contract negotiations.
“Once again, Sergio Perez is enjoying his most productive season with us since joining Red Bull. There’s really no explanation as to why you still have to say it, orient yourself and look to the future,” he explained.
Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner Marko’s sentiments in his praise of Perez:
“We’re pleased with [Perez’s] performance, but our priority is to maintain consistency throughout the season before weighing our options,” Horner said.