Sainz looks for a new seat in F1: Audi remains a possibility, but Binotto closes the door
The adventure with Williams is not going as expected for Carlos Sainz. After a first year of two faces (a difficult start but a strong finish), the 2026 season has been a blow to the ambitions of the Spaniard and Alex Albon. The FW48 was born late and suffered from weight problems in the first part of the championship; moreover, the first developments did not yield the hoped-for results in Grove and the next package is only expected for Baku.
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Sainz looks at the market, but Audi slows down
In this context, it is not surprising that Sainz is looking around. One of the most logical options for his future is Audi, also in light of the presence of Mattia Binotto, the man who strongly wanted him at Ferrari and who continues to value him as a driver despite this year’s difficulties. However, Binotto has closed this path: the team is happy with Nico Hülkenberg (who had already provoked Sainz by stating that the reserve seat at Audi was free) and Gabriel Bortoleto.
Binotto’s words on Sainz
“Carlos is certainly a person I know very well, and it is easy to associate him with Audi, but I can only say that I am very happy with the driver lineup we have,” these are Binotto’s words in an interview with RacingNews365. “The fact that other drivers are linked to our team still makes me very happy, because it demonstrates the credibility of our project; the external perception that one day we could become competitive is no longer a rumor, but a fact.”
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“Often, when talking about Gabriel and Nico, I hear that it is a good mix of experience and youth. I, however, judge them differently: two very fast drivers.”
Sainz’s future remains unwritten
The German manufacturer was a possible destination for the Spaniard in 2025. Leaving Ferrari, Sainz did not want to accept a World Championship at the back of the grid with then Kick Sauber even in front of a promising prospect at Audi. Instead, he was convinced by Williams and the words of James Vowles, but after this disastrous start to 2026 it is likely that Smooth Operator regrets the choice.
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