Carlos Sainz contemplates lucrative offers from top teams, while Valtteri Bottas is left pondering his scant options.
Carlos Sainz is one of the drivers delaying the next phase of the “silly season” of F1 driver transfers.
This is confirmed by Valtteri Bottas, who appears almost certain to leave Sauber, owned by Audi, at the end of the year.
The Swiss team, now wholly owned by Audi, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen group, has already signed Nico Hulkenberg for next year—which, according to Bottas in Miami, “makes sense due to his German nationality.”
It is also clear that Audi is looking to sign Sainz for the other seat, forcing Bottas and his current teammate Guanyu Zhou to negotiate with other F1 teams.
“Everyone wants to race for the best possible team,” Bottas shares at the Miami GP.
“But everyone needs to secure their spot, and Guanyu and I, we need to go talk to other teams.”
Bottas believes Sainz is “currently hesitant to sign with Audi while better options are available.”
“His managers are surely trying to get him signed with Red Bull because there is uncertainty around Max (Verstappen) or around Sergio (Perez).”
“The second option for him is the second fastest car available, which would be Mercedes.”
“And yes, he surely has a contract waiting with Audi. It will be very important to see how the pieces come together in the coming weeks so as not to miss the train that is about to leave.”
Bottas still refuses to retire.
“I don’t know if I’ll last as long as Fernando (Alonso) but I see myself here for many more years.”
Sainz Bottas F1 uncertainty. Sainz Bottas F1 uncertainty
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