Carlos Sainz identified as prime target for Audi F1 team in 2026: Reports

The Spaniard signed for Ferrari in 2021 and currently holds a contract that expires in 2024

Carlos Sainz is rumoured to be a prospect for Audi

The 2026 season will be the beginning of a new era in Formula One, with new teams set to take the grid. Audi is one such team that has already been confirmed to be joining the pinnacle of motorsport. They have reportedly set their sights on recruiting Carlos Sainz as their main objective.

Audi knows very well that their potential driver lineup will play a crucial role as they attempt to compete with the rest of the grid in their first season. Along with the developmental challenges that they face, picking the right drivers will make or break their debut year.

FS Video

Carlos Sainz is currently driving at Ferrari and is struggling to make an impact on the team. The Scuderia consider his counterpart Charles Leclerc to be their prodigy and champion and thus are more inclined to favour him in the coming years, leaving Sainz in need of strong options. Audi could provide the fresh start he requires to reinstate his desire to be a world champion.

Carlos Sainz is yet to prove himself at the pinnacle of motorsport

Carlos Sainz began his F1 career at Toro Rosso, known today as Alpha Tauri. It acts as a sister team and academy to Red Bull. He made his debut in 2015 and partnered with a young Max Verstappen. In 2016 and 2017, Sainz scored the majority of the team’s points and showed seemed like a promising prospect. He departed the team for Renault toward the end of 2017.

Sainz’s career at Renault was average at best, given the mediocre car he was provided with. He suffered several retirements from reliability issues and looked average at best. Sainz managed to score half of the team’s points but was replaced by Daniel Ricciardo nonetheless in 2019.

?? Good start and solid comeback after an unlucky situation with first red flag. Good race overall, but the penalty ruined it all and I don’t agree with it. Very difficult to digest, but I’ll take the positives and focus on the next race

?https://t.co/F4eJ8EI3Uq

–#CarlosSainz pic.twitter.com/dt3Protmh4
— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) April 2, 2023

Sainz’s stint at McLaren from 2019-2020 seemed to show improvement, given the steady rise in McLaren’s development. He was a strong qualifier and showed a strong single-lap pace. He stood on the podium twice for the British team and seemed to improve continually. Sainz finished 6^th in the Drivers’ championship in both his years at McLaren, earning him a move to Ferrari in 2021.

It was with the Scuderia that Sainz was expected to realise his potential and show the world that he was capable of fighting for wins, week in and week out. However, he has been prone to several mistakes and errors. He is overshadowed by his counterpart Charles Leclerc more often than not, and very rarely manages to extract what Leclerc does from the car. The Monégasque star is the one tipped to be world champion by the team and the rest of the world, with Sainz’s name rarely entering the discussion. Given his experience at multiple teams, the Spaniard should contest Leclerc consistently and establish himself as more than a wingman and second driver.

? EXCLUSIVA: Sauber y Audi ya están trabajando en las parejas de pilotos de cara a las próximas temporadas. Estos son los principales candidatos:

? SAUBER (2024): Valtteri Bottas y Daniel Ricciardo. Zhou acaba contrato.
? AUDI (2026, incluso 2025): Carlos Sainz y Checo Pérez.… pic.twitter.com/hFsTyAftmY
— Fórmula Directa (@FormulaDirecta) April 18, 2023

However, he has failed to do this, ending both 2021 and 2022 in 5^th in the drivers’ standings, behind his teammate. He is more prone to making mistakes, too, costing the team in repairs. Sainz secured his maiden win at Silverstone 2022 but has failed to cross the line first in the races to come. 2023 has been even more unforgiving, with him having scored only 20 points in 3 races.

If Carlos Sainz desires to be a World Champion, he must not remain in his teammate Leclerc’s shadow any longer. To do this, he must either outperform him, which at the moment looks bleak given the gap in the ability of the two drivers, or must make a fresh start at a new team. Despite racing for 4 different teams, including Ferrari, Sainz is yet to prove that he is worthy of winning a world title, but the prospect of a move to Audi could be just what he needs to turn over a new page and leave his mark in Formula One