Binotto Dismisses Sainz and Piastri Links as Audi Backs Current Line-up

Audi stands by Hulkenberg and Bortoleto

Audi Formula 1 boss Mattia Binotto has played down growing speculation linking the manufacturer with Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri, insisting that he is fully satisfied with the team’s current driver pairing of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.

Sainz held serious discussions with Audi during 2024 while searching for a new seat after Ferrari signed seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. The Spaniard ultimately joined Williams in 2025 and recorded two podium finishes during his first season with the Grove outfit. However, Williams’ performance has declined in 2026, while major problems with its machinery have intensified questions over Sainz’s future.

That has prompted renewed suggestions that he could consider a move to Audi. Piastri has also been mentioned as a potential future target, either if he leaves McLaren or if he is replaced by four-time champion Max Verstappen.

For Binotto, however, the speculation does not alter his assessment of Audi’s existing line-up.

“First, I’m not reading the newspapers myself, or not reading much, so I’m hearing from you,” Binotto told RacingNews365 when asked about the links to Sainz and Piastri.

“Carlos is certainly a person whom I know very well, and it’s somehow easy and obvious to link him to Audi, but I can only say that I’m very happy with the line-up we have.”

Binotto sees pace, not just experience and youth

The Audi boss rejected the idea that Hulkenberg and Bortoleto should be judged simply as a combination of experience and youth. Instead, he stressed the performance level he believes both drivers bring to the project.

“Often, when discussing Gabriel and Nico, what I hear is that it is a good mix between experience and, on the other side, the young driver,” Binotto said. “Instead, I would judge them differently. They are two very fast drivers, and I am happy because they are fast drivers, both of them, so we’ve got a good line-up.”

Binotto added that the continued links with other drivers could be interpreted positively for Audi. He said the speculation showed that the project’s credibility was improving and that the outside perception of Audi’s potential competitiveness was becoming more than mere rumour.

“It is showing that the perception from the outside that one day we can become competitive is no longer a rumour, but it is a fact,” he said.

The latest speculation also comes as questions around Sainz’s Williams future continue to build, as outlined in this recent report on his uncertain 2027 position.