Sauber already made one of many first strikes of the 2025 driver market by signing Nico Hulkenberg from Haas on a multi-year deal, which takes the German into its first yr because the Audi manufacturing unit staff in 2026.
With Lewis Hamilton transferring from Mercedes to take his Ferrari seat subsequent yr, Sainz is the most well liked property who’s at present not underneath contract for 2025. The 29-year-old already has hyperlinks to Audi by his father’s Dakar Rally outings, which embody victory within the 2024 occasion.
When requested by Motorsport.com about his shortlist for the remaining seat in 2025, Alunni Bravi – who can also be the managing director of the Sauber Group – quipped that “all of the groups have a brief record!”
“All people is aware of that there’s a prime driver that’s out there out there, it is Carlos Sainz,” he mentioned. “I feel that everyone, , want to have Carlos on board.
“He is without doubt one of the finest drivers. He reveals [himself] to be extraordinarily mature, driver to develop the automotive, to drive the staff for the event, however on the identical time very constant, very robust each in qualifying and race. And I feel that Ferrari has the most effective pair of drivers.
“However we all know additionally that the drivers market will not be relying simply by ourself. It’s relying on various factors. And there are numerous groups which might be discussing with drivers. And I feel that there are a number of choices for our staff.
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Crew Kick Sauber, Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Crew Consultant, Stake F1 Crew Kick Sauber
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
“And we’ll consider, however now that we introduced Nico there is no such thing as a rush to make this alternative. We’re nonetheless on the very starting.”
When pushed on what stage talks have reached, and whether or not his present drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are nonetheless choices, Alunni Bravi mentioned no choices had been taken.
“We’re talking with [Sainz] and different drivers,” he mentioned. “Additionally with our present drivers.
“However that is why we’ve no rush, as a result of now we secured one of many two seats. Now we are able to have extra time. The choice will not be a simple one. As a result of, in fact, we’ve two good drivers which were with us for 3 years, which might be performing properly.
“There’s Carlos, there are different drivers, and we have to perceive – as a result of right here we’re taking a call that’s not simply impacting 2025 but in addition the way forward for the Audi works staff.
“So, I’d say the length of the contract, what might be the mixture… the driving force line-up is essential. It isn’t simply the choice of a single driver. And all of the choices are on the desk, ranging from our present two drivers and discover [the one] that might match into the general mission.”
An alternative choice which stays out there to Sainz is rejoining the Crimson Bull steady, which he left after it ignored him in favour of Max Verstappen in 2016.
However final month Crimson Bull’s Helmut Marko revealed that Sainz “has a really profitable provide from Audi that we will not match or beat”.
Further reporting by Mandy Curi