Carlos Sainz says the signing of Mattia Binotto at Audi has no influence on his future – The two have already spoken to each other though
The news that Mattia Binotto will take over as head of Audi’s Formula 1 project from August 1 came as a surprise. Could Carlos Sainz now also follow his former Ferrari team boss and join the Ingolstadt team? After all, the Spaniard has had an offer from Audi on the table for several months …
“I think the signing of Mattia is positive for every team, especially because he has the experience you need to build a top team like Ferrari,” praises Sainz, who knows Binotto very well from their time together at the Scuderia. The Italian himself brought him from McLaren to Ferrari for the 2021 season.
“He has this experience from Ferrari that he can bring to Audi, and I’m sure that’s a big advantage for them, and that’s why they signed him,” believes the Spaniard, who won’t let that affect him: “The signing of Mattia is good news for them, but it won’t have a big impact on my future.”
Does this mean that Sainz will continue to take his time with his decision? The 29-year-old is currently keeping all options open, as Williams and Alpine are also interested in signing the current Ferrari driver for the coming years.
“My future is still being discussed “
What is “definitely out of the question” for the Spaniard is a break. “I’m happy in Formula 1, I love Formula 1 and I would rather go to a midfield team and use my skills at the peak of my career to help a midfield team find the right path than take a year off or be third driver for anyone. “
“I’m competitive and I know I can still bring that side of me to a midfield team,” says Sainz, who is under no pressure to make a decision about his future – even with the recent signing of Binotto. “Not really, I think my future is still being discussed and of course very carefully analyzed,” smiles the Spaniard.
“With many of the teams I’m looking at for next year, there are changes almost every week. There are just as many changes on the team market as there are on the driver market. And I will continue to take my time to make a decision and analyze all these things that are constantly changing.”
Have Binotto and Sainz at least discussed the Italian’s new role at Audi? “A lot of people are calling me now, not just Mattia, but yes, of course we have spoken,” Sainz revealed to the Spanish journalists from DAZN. “I congratulated him because I think it’s the ideal position for him at the moment. “
