Audi's Ultimatum to Sainz for Sauber F1 Leadership Role

Sainz Faces Tight Deadline from Audi for Sauber F1 Seat

02/04/2024

Audi sets a tight deadline for Carlos Sainz to join its Sauber F1 project, marking a crucial career decision for the driver amidst Formula 1’s shifting dynamics.

Audi, the new owner of Sauber, might only give Carlos Sainz a few weeks to accept an offer to lead the driver duo for its new Formula 1 factory project.

Sauber, currently sporting a neon green “Stake” and “Kick” livery, remains in the bottom half of the pack.

Thus, Sainz, still with Ferrari until the end of the season and victor in Melbourne, now in search of another team and also rumored for a possible transfer to Mercedes or Red Bull, faces a pivotal decision.

Andreas Seidl is eager to plan ahead with certainty. For Sauber’s CEO, it’s crucial to quickly finalize the duo for Audi F1 to start training by 2025.

Seidl has extended an offer to the 29-year-old Spanish driver with a mid-April deadline to decide for 2025 and beyond.

Rumors suggest Nico Hülkenberg has already signed to be in the other car.

Sainz has been accompanied at all Grand Prix this year by his famous father, Carlos Sainz Senior, who assists in negotiating his son’s next F1 seat.

“It’s hard to say where my son will be in 2025. I hope to see him in a car capable of fighting for wins.”

“Everything that happened (with Ferrari) was a surprise; we didn’t expect it, and now we’re trying to figure out what to do and where to go. Meanwhile, Ferrari seems to allow both drivers to compete.”

“Red Bull remains the favorite, but Ferrari is closer now.”

Audi’s Ultimatum to Sainz for Sauber F1 Leadership Role. Audi’s Ultimatum to Sainz for Sauber F1 Leadership Role

Audi's Ultimatum to Sainz for Sauber F1 Leadership Role

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2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix - Race Results

Lando Norris
1
LANDO
NORRIS
57
Max Verstappen
2
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
+0.895s
George Russell
3
GEORGE
RUSSELL
+8.481s
Alex Albon
4
ALEX
ALBON
+12.773s
Kimi Antonelli
5
KIMI
ANTONELLI
+15.135s
Lance Stroll
6
LANCE
STROLL
+17.413s
Nico Hulkenberg
7
NICO
HULKENBERG
+18.423s
Charles Leclerc
8
CHARLES
LECLERC
+19.826s
Oscar Piastri
9
OSCAR
PIASTRI
+20.448s
Lewis Hamilton
10
LEWIS
HAMILTON
+22.473s
Pierre Gasly
11
PIERRE
GASLY
+26.502s
Yuki Tsunoda
12
YUKI
TSUNODA
+29.884s
Esteban Ocon
13
ESTEBAN
OCON
+33.161s
Oliver Bearman
14
OLIVER
BEARMAN
+40.351s
Liam Lawson
15
LIAM
LAWSON
47 DNF
Gabriel Bortoleto
16
GABRIEL
BORTOLETO
47 DNF
Fernando Alonso
17
FERNANDO
ALONSO
34 DNF
Carlos Sainz
18
CARLOS
SAINZ
0 DNF
Jack Doohan
19
JACK
DOOHAN
0 DNF
Isack Hadjar
20
ISACK
HADJAR
0 DNF
F1 CALENDAR 2025
Race
Date
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Chinese
Shanghai International
23 Mar
Japanese Flag
Japanese
Suzuka Circuit
6 Apr
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Bahrain
Sakhir desert
13 Apr
Saudi Arabia Flag
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street
20 Apr
United States Flag
United States
Miami
04 May

2025 FORMULA 1 DRIVERS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Lando Norris
1
LANDO
NORRIS
25 Points
Max Verstappen
2
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
18
George Russell
3
GEORGE
RUSSELL
15
Alex Albon
4
ALEX
ALBON
12
Kimi Antonelli
5
KIMI
ANTONELLI
10
Lance Stroll
6
LANCE
STROLL
8
Nico Hulkenberg
7
NICO
HULKENBERG
6
Charles Leclerc
8
CHARLES
LECLERC
4
Oscar Piastri
9
OSCAR
PIASTRI
2
Lewis Hamilton
10
LEWIS
HAMILTON
1

2025 FORMULA 1 CONSTRUCTORS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

1
McLaren
27
2
Mercedes
25
3
Red Bull
18
4
Williams
12
5
Aston Martin
8
6
Sauber
6
7
Ferrari
5
8
Alpine F1
0
9
Haas F1
0
10
Racing Bulls
0
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