F1 Rumor: Toto Wolff Ready to Poach Carlos Sainz From Audi

Ferrari might be taking steps towards returning to the winning ways after Frederic Vasseur’s arrival, as the car performance is improving. Adrian Newey is also rumored to join, and last but not least, Lewis Hamilton is coming in. However, the last of these came at the cost of Carlos Sainz being sacked and Toto Wolff tasked with finding a replacement. And both these problems might have the same solution. Could Toto Wolff’s readiness to poach Carlos Sainz away from Audi be it? 

Carlos Sainz has been linked to multiple teams since he’s been sacked by Ferrari. Even his manager and Charles Leclerc suggested that the Spaniard is in conversation with multiple teams. Mercedes, Red Bull, and Audi are all viable options for Sainz. However, over the last few months, Audi has come out as the most likely option. The German brand has offered the Spaniard an elephant-sized contract for multiple years. 

However, according to some reports, the deadline for the same has already passed. But we’re hopeful that Audi has extended the deadline as Sainz still makes up his mind about which team to join. Even a representative of the Stake F1 team, which will become Audi from 2026 onwards revealed that the Spaniard is a top priority for the team. On the other hand, current Stake driver Valtteri Bottas suggests that Sainz is trying to sign for Red Bull. 

But in between all of this, Toto Wolff has come out as the dark horse, pushed the Max Verstappen to Mercedes rumors to the side for a while, and talked about the possibility of Carlos Sainz coming to Mercedes. And it seems likely as the Mercedes CEO confirmed that he’s keeping a close eye on Sainz. According to Sky Sports, Toto Wolff said, “There’s always plenty of meetings. I can’t really say about the second driver [at Mercedes].” He added, “I think we want to take our time, see where Max’s thinking goes, and at the same time, monitor the other drivers. Carlos [Sainz] was very strong in Miami again and that’s why we are a little bit on an observation mode at the moment.”

Max Verstappen has recently come out to suggest that money isn’t a deciding factor that’ll make him leave the team, and it’s all about having the fastest machinery, which Red Bull currently has. This will leave Toto Wolff with Carlos Sainz and Kimi Antonelli to choose from. With the Italian not looking ready for Mercedes, as Nico Rosberg advised, Sainz is the only option. Wolff must be ready and on his toes to poach the 29-year-old from Audi. However, the Spaniard’s interest in Audi seems to grow.

Carlos Sainz’s meeting with Future Audi Driver Nico Hulkenberg after Miami GP

While Toto Wolff was rumored to ask Max Verstappen and his campaign after the Miami GP to discuss a possible move, Carlos Sainz went ahead and met with his probable future teammate Nico Hulkenberg. The German will leave the Haas team at the end of the year and join Stake F1 next year, which will then become Audi the following year. Carlos Sainz Sr already teased the fact that he talked to his son about the Audi move, as he himself won the Dakar with Audi. 

As per the pictures uploaded by F1gossippofficial, both Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz were spotted at Miami’s Forte dei Marmi restaurant, as both of them got pictures clicked with a fan. The caption read, “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? What will be Carlos Sainz’s destination come the end of this year?