Carlos Sainz reportedly identified as Audi’s top target when they enter F1
The Germ🅘an manufacturer will join F1 in 2026 as a power unit supplier and, after securing Alfa Romeo as a “strategic partner”, a factory team.
But the most intriguing pꦆart of their ambitious entry will be who they recruit to be behind t❀he wheel.
Curre🥂nt Ferrari driver Sainz is at the top of their list, repor𝔍t.
Fe🍃rrari have Charles Leclerc - the runner-up in the F1 standings last season - and Sainz on their books but refuse to name either as their🅠 No 1 driver.
Sainz, currently 28, ওis see♏n a viable option to help Audi quickly fight for the championship.
He has driven for Toro Rosso, Renault,🐠 McꦏLaren and Ferrari in his nine-year F1 career so far.
It had been asꦑsumed that they would favour a German driver with Mick Schumacher often mooted as an option.
Audi’s cha𒁃rge is beginning to take shape behind🧔 the scenes.
Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at AUDI AG, said: “The Audi Formu🅠la 1 project has really taken off in recent months. In the ongoing concept phase of the power unit, the foundation of our drivetrain for 2026 is being laid tඣoday.
“We attach great imp🃏ortance to detail work, for example on materials or manufacturing technologies, and we also focus on topics such as the energy management of the hybrid driv🎃etrain.
“After all, efficiency is a key success factor for Formula 1 and the mobility of the future, [and] these approaches will advance both 💟worldꦑs.”
James was a ♋sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering 🧔everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
