Should Carlos Sainz join Audi despite interest from Red Bull and Mercedes?

However, Formula 1 has witnessed a busy driver market. Mercedes currently looks for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton while Red Bull is evaluating all options for Sergio Perez’s seat. Carlos Sainz’s Australian GP win put him on the top of the lists for the two top teams in the pinnacle of motorsport. However, this begs the question, should Carlos Sainz join Audi despite interest from Red Bull and Mercedes?

Carlos Sainz’s Red Bull reunion could fail

Carlos Sainz was part of the Red Bull driver academy. The Spanish driver made his F1 debut alongside a 17-year-old Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso in 2015. However, Verstappen overshadowed Sainz, with the 29-year-old moving to Renault on loan in the latter half of 2017.

Since then, Max Verstappen has solidified his place as the lead driver at Milton Keynes. The Dutch driver has not only won three back-to-back world titles but outperformed all his teammates since 2019. Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has claimed that the team was evaluating Carlos Sainz for Perez’s seat. However, this could force the 29-year-old to play second fiddle to Verstappen.

Sainz wants equal treatment to his teammate. The Spaniard has received this at Ferrari since 2021. However, Red Bull would be a completely different story. Max Verstappen’s team might continue to prioritize the Dutchman which could put Carlos Sainz in a spiral of disappointing results like Verstappen’s former teammates.

Mercedes’ performance remains doubtful amidst 2024 struggles

Mercedes have struggled in F1 since the introduction of the ground-effect rules in 2022. The Silver Arrows have failed to win a single race since 2022. One could argue that this was the reason for Lewis Hamilton‘s exit. Nevertheless, the Brackley-based team had yet another disappointing start this season.

The Silver Arrows would provide Carlos Sainz equal footing to George Russell. This would allow the Spaniard to showcase his talent against the Briton. However, the main problem would be the performance of the Brackley-based team. Mercedes has even highlighted that Sainz remains in contention for Hamilton’s seat.

It is unlikely that Mercedes would drastically improve next season. Moreover, despite the 2026 rule change, it remains unclear if the Silver Arrows could return to its glory days. However, it must be noted that Mercedes remain a strong option for Carlos Sainz as a well-established top team in Formula 1.

A gamble on Audi could be the best prospect for Carlos Sainz

The Sauber-run Stake F1 team will become Audi works team in 2026. The German carmaker will not be involved in the day-to-day operations of the Swiss team till the new rules. As such, if Carlos Sainz decided to take up the rumored offer of the auto giant, the 29-year-old would need to write-off his 2025 campaign.

Audi’s money and resources can do wonders for Sauber in the long term. However, currently the Swiss squad competes in the back of the field against the likes of Williams and Haas. It is likely that Sainz would be stuck with back markers during his first season at the team. 2026 would be a game changer for the Hinwil-based team with Audi’s entry.

The brand new power units could provide Carlos Sainz with a big advantage if the German carmaker mimics Mercedes’ turbo hybrid era breakthrough. However, Audi has given a three-year timeline to be truly competitive in Formula 1. As such, Sainz would need to wait till he could have a real shot at the world title.

Carlos Sainz could only become a team leader if he takes up Audi’s offer. The Spaniard would get a chance to build a team around him with the German carmaker. However, this remains a big gamble considering the uncertainty over Sauber’s performance. Nevertheless, Sainz might be lured towards the prospect of leading a works team in Formula 1. As the 29-year-old would not need to struggle in a garage dominated by his teammate.