Binotto: Carlos Sainz ignored his dad’s advice before rejecting Audi

Mattia Binotto has offered a telling insight into the negotiations that saw Carlos Sainz choose Williams over Audi, revealing that the Spaniard made a decision that was very much his own — and not one guided by his famous father.

A Decision Made on His Own Terms

Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, the Audi CEO was reflective but measured when asked about failing to land the four-time Grand Prix winner.

Binotto then offered a pointed hint that Sainz Sr — who has represented Audi in the Dakar Rally on three occasions, winning the trophy in 2024 — may have been pulling in the direction of the German manufacturer. Yet his son, it seems, took a different path.

"He evaluated but, as with everyone, I'm always very respectful to the decisions of the people," Binotto added. "If he decided a different way, I'm happy for him, because honestly, I think he made his own choice, and that was important. I would even say that he made his own choice, and not his dad's choice, which is great for him."

A Difficult Start to the New Regulations

While Sainz's debut season at Williams in 2025 was a qualified success — ninth in the Drivers' Championship with two podiums — the start of the new regulations has been a different story. Vowles had promised Sainz that Williams aspired to be front-runners under the new rules, but production delays over the winter have left the team struggling to close the gap to the top outfits, with that gap in fact growing substantially.

Sainz has managed just six points from the first five rounds — three ninth-place finishes — leaving him 13th in the championship. More telling, perhaps, is his average qualifying position of 16th, a number that may more accurately reflect where the FW47 truly stands in the current pecking order.

Meanwhile, at Audi, the picture has been mixed. Gabriel Bortoleto's ninth-place finish at the season opener in Australia remains the team's only points return, while reliability has plagued the project — two DNS entries and one DNF across the opening five rounds. Bortoleto himself has flagged ongoing power unit issues that threaten to cost the team positions even before racing begins.

What Comes Next for Sainz?

With Audi understood to be satisfied with their driver pairing of Nico Hulkenberg and Bortoleto, any escape route for Sainz — should he choose to trigger an end-of-year break clause believed to be written into his Williams contract — may be limited. A move to Red Bull has been mooted, though that scenario hinges entirely on whether Max Verstappen leaves or retires.

For now, Sainz remains at Williams, navigating a season that has tested the faith he placed in Vowles' vision. What is clear, at least, is that the decision was entirely his to make — a point Binotto was evidently keen to acknowledge.