Sauber, the Formula 1 team that is about to become an official participant of Audi, confirmed that they are targeting Carlos Sainz Jr as their top choice to complete their driver lineup for the 2025 season. Sainz, who is currently available in the market after Ferrari’s surprising move to hire Lewis Hamilton, has sparked interest from both Mercedes and Red Bull. However, it was revealed last month that Sainz received a tempting offer from Audi, a brand with which he has ties through his father’s victory in the Dakar Rally. Sauber’s representative, Alessandro Alunni Bravi, expressed a preference for Sainz as a partner for Nico Hulkenberg, who has already been signed by Haas. Although there are other drivers being considered, Sainz is widely seen as a top option due to his maturity, car development skills, and consistent performance in both qualifying and races. The team acknowledges that the driver market is complex and there are numerous options available, but they are not in a hurry to make a decision, as they have just announced Hulkenberg as part of their team.
Current Sauber drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, have expressed their desire to continue with the team. Bravi, the team representative, did not rule out the possibility of either driver staying. Amid rumors that Sainz may have missed a deadline from Audi, Bravi clarified that Sauber is not in a rush to decide on their second driver for the upcoming season. They are currently in negotiations with Sainz and other drivers, including their current drivers. However, they are not in a hurry as they have already secured one of the two seats. This decision is not easy, as they have two talented drivers who have been with the team for three years and have performed well. They also need to consider the impact of the decision on the future of the Audi factory team. The duration of the contract and the lineup of the driver team are crucial factors that need to be taken into account. All options are being considered, starting with the current drivers, to find the best fit for the overall project.
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