F1 Rumor: Carlos Sainz Gets Massive Ultimatum For 2025 Seat, Days After Audi’s Last Deadline Blows Away

Before the Miami GP, Carlos Sainz’s manager, who’s also named Carlos, guaranteed that there would be no announcement about the Spaniard signing for another team before the Imola GP. However, Sainz’s flirting with multiple teams for a seat might leave him without a seat for 2025 as he’s given an ultimatum by Audi, just a week after the last deadline surpassed. But what is this ultimatum?

Carlos Sainz was left without a seat for 2025 after Ferrari sacked him in favor of Lewis Hamilton, despite Frederic Vasseur’s comments last year suggesting that both Leclerc and Sainz would be given contracts in due time. However, the Spaniard has been in the form of his life and his performances have put him on the radar of multiple teams. Both his manager and Charles Leclerc confirmed that Sainz is in talks with multiple teams at the moment. 

But this might hinder the Spaniard’s F1 future. Sainz is linked to Red Bull, Mercedes, and Audi. The Red Bull seat will be available if Max Verstappen decides to make a move to Red Bull, or if Checo’s contract isn’t extended. However, at Mercedes, Toto Wolff is eager to sign the Dutchman but is rumored to have offered Sainz a 1-year contract, with the option to extend for another based on certain terms. This is to keep the option of Verstappen open, and Kimi Antonelli, who might join Williams midway through this year, or next year. 

Audi on the other hand offered Sainz a huge deal with multiple years on the contract, but the Ferrari driver missed the deadline to sign for them. Antonio Lobato suggested that Sainz missed the deadline and is looking for a more competitive team. But the way things are going at the moment, Audi might be the only option left soon. According to Sport1, Carlos Sainz has been given an ultimatum by Audi now, to make up his mind and give them an answer before the Monaco GP, or else Audi will look for alternative options.

Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly are rumored to be the other targets for Audi, but Sainz is the preferred one. In case Verstappen stays with Red Bull, Mercedes signs the young talent of Kimi Antonelli and Audi goes for either of the French drivers, then Sainz will not be left with any top team drive for 2025. Hence, this is probably the reason why Carlos Sainz met with Nico Hulkenberg.

Carlos Sainz’s meeting with Nico Hulkenberg after the Miami GP

Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris are the best of friends and the example of their Car-Lando bromance during the McLaren days is still given as an example. Yet, Sainz decided to skip the Brit’s maiden win party after the Miami GP and was spotted with Nico Hulkenberg. The German announced his departure from Haas and will be joining Sauber, which will become Audi for the 2026 season. 

Carlos Sainz was spotted with Nico Hulkenberg in the famous Italian restaurant in Miami named Forte dei Marmi. Sain probably understands the situation he is in and wanted to connect with Hulkenberg to get some information about what the Audi project is like. It seems likely that within a month, the Spaniard’s future will be decided. And Audi seems like the team he will be signing with unless something major happens elsewhere.

What do you think the future is behind Carlos Sainz? Is signing with a new team like Audi too big of a risk? And is that what Sainz is trying to avoid, and not waste his prime years?