Carlos Sainz alleges clickbait and denies talks with Audi

(Motorsport-Complete.com) – Carlos Sainz denies rumors that he’s already in negotiations with Audi to drive for the German producer System 1 in 2026. As is well-known, Audi has purchased into the Swiss Sauber group and can be a part of the manufacturing unit in 2026, with a group that can proceed to function from Hinwil however will bear the Audi identify.

Rumors first surfaced in April, in accordance with which Sainz could possibly be on the prime of the want record of his former McLaren group boss Andreas Seidl. Seidl is now Managing Director of Sauber and is setting the course for 2026 within the background, recruiting workers and initiating the mandatory adjustments to the infrastructure.

Sainz had already denied the rumors as “fictitious” in April. Nonetheless, you will need to observe that the media in Spain and Switzerland, the place the story was unfold, didn’t explicitly declare that talks had already taken place; however solely reported that Seidl might effectively think about Sainz as a driver.

Sainz suspects clickbait as a motivation

“I do not know if it is simply clickbait or if smaller journalists try to get consideration with a narrative like this so their smaller websites may be extra profitable, once they can then say, ‘I used to be the primary to report that Carlos might be with Audi in 2026,” says the Ferrari driver.

“I actually assume it must be one thing like this, as a result of I do not perceive the place else the rumors might come from,” explains Sainz. “It doesn’t suggest that I’ll swap, nor does it imply that I will not swap. It is inconceivable to foretell. However I do know I am not speaking to anybody however Ferrari in the present day.”

Contract extension in winter on the newest?

Like teammate Charles Leclerc, Sainz is beneath contract with the Scuderia from Maranello till the tip of 2024. He hopes that any extension must be signed and sealed by the tip of 2023 on the newest: “I will not lie. I would not like to enter the final 12 months of my contract with out realizing the place I will be driving the next 12 months. “

“I’ve seen this course of at Pink Bull and Renault, so I do know it isn’t a really perfect scenario for an athlete and a racer. It is simply not proper. That is why I’ve got down to make clear my future this winter .”

“For me, the precedence is to win with Ferrari at some point. That is my principal purpose. I feel I’ve made that clear very, fairly often. And that is why I will give them my first precedence in winter,” pronounces Sainz.

Simply in case he does not come to an settlement with Ferrari, different groups (and due to this fact additionally Audi) might turn into a difficulty, the 28-year-old claims: “If not, will probably be time to look elsewhere. However Ferrari is my precedence and I wish to kind that out within the winter.”

Sainz: Belief in Ferrari hasn’t gone away

Ferrari is experiencing a troublesome 2023 season up to now. Sainz is fifth after eight of twenty-two race weekends Drivers’ Championship, however is already 127 factors behind chief Max Verstappen. The World Cup prepare has virtually left, and lately there was a sequence of bankruptcies, dangerous luck and breakdowns, particularly within the tactical and strategic space.

“I feel the group is in fine condition,” says Sainz nonetheless. “We’re nonetheless going by means of inside adjustments since Fred (Vasseur, group principal; editor’s observe) got here. There have been just a few adjustments right here and there that we’re nonetheless realigning. However the manufacturing unit and race group are doing effectively collectively.”

“So I do not assume there is a lack of belief within the group. That does not give me a headache,” he says. “The primary factor is that we perceive why we’re so sluggish within the races. As soon as we perceive that, all the things else might be a lot simpler for us.”