Salary, clause, contract, what Audi offers to the Spanish driver

Australian Grand Prix winner, Carlos Sainz quickly found himself at the center of attention. But also under pressure from the transfer market. Disappointed by the strategy of Fred Vasseur who preferred to sign Lewis Hamilton in 2025, instead of renewing him for 1 or 3 years, the three-time Grand Prix winner is on the market and entered the list of Mercedes, Red Bull and Audi. The last one is the most annoying.

Audi accelerates the movement for Carlos Sainz

Entering the track in 2026, the German manufacturer now owns the Sauber team (known as the Stakes F1 Team), up to 75%. Speeding up the necessary program to ensure economic integrity, in the absence of sports at the moment; The Swiss single-seater’s investment in the 2024 F1 season is slowly but steadily increasing. In the management of the team, Andreas Seidl, the coordinator of the team, explained to his new German directors that it was important to focus on a major structure in 2025, for the continuation of the 2024 program, to build the 2026 season Carlos Sainz supports.

The signing of Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, announced in February, accelerated events. However, regarding the Spaniard’s expedition, it is time to wait. But secretly the idea of ​​having an offer for June is considered important. We must ensure the future of testing in the long term. Continuing negotiations with Scuderia Ferrari during the winter, the Germans at Audi considered the Spanish proposal for a 5-year contract (2025 to 2029), worth a total of 175 million euros, excessive. Quickly, the managers of the brand and the four rings made a proposal against the contract of three seasons (2025 to 2027) starting from 24 million euros and a total of 100 million euros (bonuses included). One thing, however, surprised those close to Sainz: The offer will expire at the beginning of May.

Red Bull and Mercedes, for different reasons…

The fact remains that since Sainz’s victory, two other players have entered the sport, for different reasons. Red Bull, suffering from internal tension, rivals Christian Horner and Helmut Marko wants to consolidate positions. Sainz’s interest is in the English main team, while the Austrian consultant wants to be replaced by Sergio Perez of Mexico. But the speech seems to be going on. Red Bull Racing has made an electric offer estimated at 20 million euros per year, which does not seem to satisfy the Iberian clan in the long term (2 years suggested). On the Mercedes side, the Toto Wolff equation is weak. Urged by the management of the German manufacturer to disrupt the plans of its rival Audi, the Austrian manager quickly prepared a 2-year offer (in the form of 1+1 year) for Ferrari’s assistant driver, accepting a salary of 30 million euros. that. With young Kimi Antonelli (currently in F2) in reserve as plan A, Sainz is therefore Plan B for Mercedes AMG. But, at the moment, despite the request for an amendment of the contract period, nothing has taken shape for the Spanish clan on the part of Brackley, because the German team is targeting Verstappen as a priority. Which drops Sainz to second or even third place on his list of candidates.