Sauber confirms: Sainz is top priority for a seat at Audi

It came as a shock to many, but Carlos Sainz is to leave Ferrari after this season. In the search for a new seat, the Spaniard has been in talks with several F1 teams. What Sainz's own preference is remains unknown, but Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Sauber's managing director and Stake F1 team representative, has at least confirmed that Sainz is Sauber's favourite candidate for a seat at Audi.

Audi wants Sainz

The team representative was asked by Motorsport.com about his shortlist for the driver to fill the empty seat at Sauber from 2025. "All teams have a shortlist! Everybody knows that there is a top driver that is available in the market, it's Carlos Sainz,” he said.

“I think that everybody, you know, would like to have Carlos on board. He is one of the best drivers. He shows [himself] to be extremely mature, a good driver to develop the car, to drive the team for the development. But at the same time, very consistent, and very strong both in qualifying and race. And I think that Ferrari has one of the best pairs of drivers."

"But we know also that the drivers market is not depending just by ourself. It depends on different factors. And there are many teams that are discussing with drivers. And I think that there are several options for our team,'' Bravi continued. “And we will evaluate, but now that we announced Nico [Hulkenberg], there is no rush to make this choice. We are still at the very beginning.” The managing director says there are talks with Sainz, but also with other drivers and their own drivers. No decisions have been made yet, but the deal with Hulkenberg means there is less of a rush.