Audi Project Leader Mattia Binotto Addresses Rumors Surrounding Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri: Why the Ingolstadt-Based Team Will Stick with Its Current Driver Duo in 2027
Audi project manager Mattia Binotto has addressed the speculation linking Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri to the German manufacturer. The Italian emphasized that he is completely satisfied with the current driver pairing of Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
“First of all, I don’t read newspapers myself—or at least not many—so I’m hearing this from you,” Binotto told RacingNews365 when asked about the links to Sainz and Piastri. Both drivers have recently been linked to a move to the Ingolstadt-based team.
And for good reason: Sainz was already in serious talks with Audi in 2024 while searching for a new seat after Ferrari announced the signing of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
The Spaniard ultimately moved to Williams, however, and secured two podium finishes in his first season with the historic Grove-based team. This season, however, the team’s performance has declined significantly, which promptly sparked new speculation about his future.
Binotto admits: Sainz “is someone I know very well”
“Carlos is certainly someone I know very well, and it’s kind of easy and obvious to link him with Audi,” admits Binotto, who also knows Sainz well from their time together at Ferrari. “But I can only say that I’m very satisfied with the driver lineup we have.”
“When people talk about Gabriel and Nico, I often hear that it’s a good mix of experience on one hand and a young driver on the other,” says the Audi project leader, likely also referring to Allan McNish’s recent comments.
“I would assess them differently, though. They are two very fast drivers, and I’m happy because they’re both fast. So we have a good driver pairing,” said Binotto. “The fact that other drivers are being linked to our team can only make me very happy, because it shows that the credibility of our project is growing.”
“It shows that the outside perception that we can one day be competitive is no longer mere speculation, but a fact.” For 2027, however, the situation seems clear: Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will continue to drive for Audi in Formula 1 next year.