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Binotto Dismisses Audi Rumours Linking Sainz and Piastri
Audi project leader Mattia Binotto has quashed paddock speculation connecting Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri to the team, insisting he is entirely satisfied with Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-08-10T10:53:04.000Z - 2 min read
Mattia Binotto has moved to quash unconfirmed paddock rumours linking Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri to Audi, placing his full backing behind the team's current driver line-up of Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. The Audi project leader made it clear that the German manufacturer has no desire to alter its plans as preparations continue for its Formula 1 campaign.
Speculation had begun circulating around the paddock suggesting Audi could target either Sainz or Piastri for 2027. Binotto dismissed the chatter when questioned by journalists, noting that he reads very few newspapers and only learned about the rumoured interest through media enquiries.
Central to Binotto's response is complete satisfaction with his existing drivers. While external observers, including former racer Allan McNish, have categorized Hülkenberg and Bortoleto as a classic combination of veteran experience and youthful promise, Binotto evaluates them through a simpler lens. For him, both drivers possess raw speed, giving Audi the strong baseline it requires.
Binotto admitted that connecting Sainz with Audi is an easy association to make given their past work together at Ferrari. Sainz held detailed discussions with Audi throughout 2024 when seeking a drive after Ferrari announced the signing of Lewis Hamilton. Although Sainz eventually signed with Williams—securing two podium finishes in his debut season with the Grove outfit—a marked drop in Williams' competitiveness this year has promptly sparked fresh speculation about his long-term future.
Rather than taking issue with the rumour mill, Binotto views the persistent reports connecting established drivers to Audi as a positive sign. In his view, such chatter demonstrates growing faith in Audi's operational direction, proving that the paddock's perception of the team becoming competitive in the future is turning into an accepted expectation rather than idle guesswork.
Despite the flurry of unverified claims surrounding Sainz and Piastri, Binotto's firm stance leaves little doubt about Audi's planned path. The Italian project leader remains satisfied with the progress of Hülkenberg and Bortoleto as the foundation for the team's entry into the sport.
With no official movement on the horizon, the paddock speculation remains strictly unconfirmed. Audi looks set to maintain stability in its driver line-up, with Hülkenberg and Bortoleto firmly expected to anchor the team's entry in 2027.