Carlos Sainz has reportedly been targeted by Audi for their seat in 2026. But what does this mean for Sainz and Ferrari? Will Audi have enough resources and performance to convince Sainz to join them?
Audi announced their entry into Formula 1 as an engine manufacturer and a factory team with a partnership with Sauber. Sauber is currently under a partnership with Alfa Romeo. It is unlikely that Audi will retain the current drivers of Sauber (Alfa Romeo). They will want their own team and will want to make a statement in their first year in the sport.
Recently there have been tensions between Carlos Sainz and teammate, Charles Leclerc. This could play into the hands of Audi by helping them land the Spanish talent behind their wheel.
Who are the potential candidates for Audi in 2026?
It has been reported that Carlos Sainz is on top of the list for Audi at the moment. Carlos Sainz has driven for Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, and now Ferrari. His experience with all these teams will help Audi in developing the car. Sainz has had his issues in Ferrari. Carlos Sainz and his current teammate Charles Leclerc seem friendly on screen. However, the 2 teammates have had a few heated moments sparking a rivalry between the two.
Audi, being a German manufacturer, will want a German driver as well. Mick Schumacher could fill that role well. in order for Schumacher to do so, he must gain a bit more experience on the grid. Hopefully, now that Mick is serving as a reserve driver for Mercedes, he could get some mentoring from Lewis Hamilton who has the most successful career in Formula 1.
Another German candidate could be Nico Hulkenberg, but he would be 38 years old at the time. His performance might not be the same as it is now. It would be a risky move for Audi to do so. There are currently no other German drivers in Formula 1 or Formula 2. They could however bring back Sebastian Vettel. Not as a driver, but as an advisor.
Another driver who could look to make a move in 2026 is Oscar Piastri. Oscar is currently in a contract with McLaren until the end of 2024. However, if Piastri feels that McLaren cannot be competitive over the next few years, he could choose to move out of McLaren. This would be a good choice for Audi as the driver had incredible success in Formula 2 and Formula 3. He is still young with a lot of potential.
Who could replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari?
If Carlos Sainz were to leave Ferrari, Ferrari might not have many options for a replacement. Carlos Sainz currently has a contract with Ferrari until the end of the 2024 season. However, Audi will make their entry only in 2025. So if Carlos Sainz plans to join Audi, he will still need to find a seat for the 2025 season. He could choose to extend his contract by 1 year if the 2 parties agree to it. However, if this does not happen, what are Ferrari’s choices?
Ferrari will not sign a rookie to be their driver. Ferrari currently has Antonio Giovinazzi, and Robert Schwartzman in their reserve role. Giovinazzi has some experience in Formula 1 with the Alfa Romeo team. But Robert Shwartzman does not have any experience in Formula 1 racing. If Ferrari plans to sign Robert Schwartzman, they will need to start planning for it now and get some experience for him.
Another potential candidate for Ferrari would be Daniel Ricciardo. Daniel Ricciardo is currently a reserve driver for Red Bull. He had a string of poor performances with McLaren. However, he is due to test the Red Bull later this season. His performance there will give us an idea of whether he still has his mojo. Ricciardo was once one of the most talented drivers on the grid. If he could get back his confidence, he could fight for the championship with Ferrari.
Can Carlos Sainz win a championship with Audi?
Audi Motorsport is due to make its debut in the 2026 season. For a team to be successful in Formula 1, they will need a few key elements. One is obviously the driver. Carlos Sainz definitely has the potential to fight for Championships given the right car.
Two is the design. Audi will need to hire a top design team to design a championship-winning car. A lot of teams had success soon after their debut because of their designer. We saw Adrian Newey achieve success with multiple teams but the most noticeable was with Red Bull. He was able to develop a championship-winning car in just 2 years.
Three are the resources the team has. Every Formula 1 team needs money and resources to be successful. The team will need to have cutting-edge technology in their facilities. In order to be able to afford these top-notch facilities, a team needs a lot of money. If Audi is able to acquire these 3 elements, the team will have a chance in the Championship battle.