‘Demon in the wet’ could now quit F1 team for Sauber ahead of Audi entry

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It is ‘not a total impossibility’ that Carlos Sainz quits Ferrari for Sauber ahead of Stake F1 Team becoming the works Audi entry as his contract negotiations are still ongoing.

The Scuderia moved to lock Charles Leclerc up with a new contract last week. It tied the 26-year-old down until, at least, the end of the 2025 season. But Sainz faces an uncertain future in Maranello, as Ferrari are still yet to extend the 29-year-old’s stay beyond the 2024 season.

Now, Sky Sports reports that Sainz may even leave Ferrari when his contract expires to sign with Sauber. The Hinwil, Switzerland-based outfit – operating as Stake F1 Team for 2024 and 2025 – are set to have a big say in the driver market, with their two seats free after this year.

Carlos Sainz could leave Ferrari for Sauber ahead of Audi’s arrival in F1

Sauber only gave Zhou Guanyu a fresh, one-year contract last September with the 24-year-old otherwise a free agent after 2023. While Valtteri Bottas is also now coming to the end of his terms. The 34-year-old agreed a multi-year deal to join Sauber from Mercedes in 2022.

Bottas and Zhou will hope to uphold in 2024 their worthiness for new contracts with Sauber set to become Audi’s works Formula 1 entry in 2026. But there is now a growing chance that Sainz may quit Ferrari to jump on board for Stake F1 Team from 2025 ahead of Audi’s arrival.

Sainz has long been one of the leading candidates for Audi’s eventual Formula 1 project. But the Spaniard switching Maranello for Hinwil before Sauber become the German automotive giant’s works team always seemed unlikely. Yet the driver market may see him switch earlier.

Ferrari are still negotiating a new contract with the Spaniard past 2024

Ferrari are still negotiating a new contract with Sainz. But the Scuderia’s delay in announcing his extension following Leclerc’s, along with Bottas and Zhou being out of contract at Sauber after 2024, increases the possibility of the Spaniard switching teams in view of Audi’s arrival.

An issue to arise from Sainz and Ferrari’s contract discussions, per Lawrence Barretto, is that the Madrid native wants a two-year deal. It would take the former McLaren star up to Audi’s arrival in the paddock. But Ferrari are still not sure if they want to lock him down past 2025.

Sainz would be a hot candidate for any vacant drives, such as Sauber’s, if he leaves Ferrari. The Spaniard was the only non-Red Bull race winner in 2023 at the Singapore GP. It was also his second victory following the 2022 British GP, where he also impressed Christian Horner.

“Congratulation to Carlos,” Red Bull team principal Horner told Sky Sports after Sainz sealed his first of five pole positions in Formula 1 at the 2022 British GP. “When he was a junior for us, he was always very strong in these kind of conditions. So, congrats to him.”