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. This occurred 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 Mercedes, 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 start glancing at alternative options.

Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly are rumored to be the other targets for Audi, but Sainz is the preferred one. After the 3X champ’s statement about staying at Red Bull, because they have the fastest car, the Milton Keynes option seems to have been closed for Sainz. Kimi Antonelli might replace Logan Sargeant and if he performs well, will go to Mercedes, as he’s been testing with the Silver Arrows. Audi seems to be the only viable option and Carlos Sainz met with Future Audi driver Hulkenberg after the race in Miami.

Carlos Sainz and Nico Hulkenberg’s secret dinner after the Miami GP

Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris’ bromance example (Car-Lando) during the McLaren days is still used as an example. Yet, the Ferrari driver skipped the Brit’s Miami GP win party at Club E11EVEN and was spotted with Nico Hulkenberg. The German driver announced his departure from Haas and will be joining Stake F1 for 2025, which will then become Audi for the 2026 season. 

Carlos Sainz dined with Nico Hulkenberg in the famous Italian restaurant named Forte dei Marmi. Sainz probably understands the situation he is in and wanted to connect with Hulkenberg to get some information about what the Audi project is like. As the pictures of both drivers taking a photo with a fan surfaced, the source wrote, “Carlos Sainz and Nico Hülkenberg were at a restaurant in Miami, everything indicates that the photo was taken last night after the Grand Prix, Nico arrived at the paddock wearing the same look! Ps: was it a meeting of future Audi drivers?!”

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?