The director of the Audi Formula 1 team, Mattia Binotto, recently commented on the speculation linking Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri with the German brand. Binotto expressed his satisfaction with the current lineup of drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
In 2024, Sainz held serious negotiations with Audi while seeking a new seat after Ferrari announced the incorporation of Lewis Hamilton. Ultimately, Sainz joined Williams in 2025, where he achieved two podiums in his first season. However, Williams’ performance has suffered a considerable decline this year.
Nevertheless, rumors have resurfaced due to the problems facing the Williams car for 2026, and speculation has arisen about a possible move for Sainz to Audi.
For his part, Piastri, a McLaren driver, has also been mentioned as a possible option for Audi, especially if he decided to leave the team or if there were a replacement from Max Verstappen.
Despite everything, Binotto claims to be completely satisfied with his current drivers. In a recent interview, he said: ‘I don’t read much news, so I find out about these speculations through you. Carlos is a good acquaintance, but I am very happy with our current lineup.’
Binotto also highlighted that both Hulkenberg and Bortoleto bring an effective combination of experience and speed to his team. According to him, external sources speculating about other drivers associated with Audi are a good indicator of the credibility and future aspirations of the team.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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