Audi F1 team principal Mattia Binotto has addressed paddock speculation linking Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri to the German manufacturer, insisting he is fully satisfied with his current driver pairing of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
Sainz held serious talks with Audi throughout 2024 as he sought a new seat following Ferrari's signing of Lewis Hamilton. The Spaniard ultimately joined Williams in 2025 and secured two podiums in his first season, but the team's performance has dipped in 2026, reigniting rumours about his future.
More recently, McLaren's Piastri has also been touted as a potential Audi target if he decides to leave Woking or if he is replaced by four-time champion Max Verstappen. Binotto, however, remains unfazed. "First, I'm not reading the newspapers myself, so I'm hearing from you," he told RacingNews365.
"Carlos is certainly a person I know very well, and it's easy to link him to Audi, but I can only say I'm very happy with the line-up we have," Binotto said. He praised the blend of experience and youth in Hulkenberg and Bortoleto, calling them "two very fast drivers."
Instead of being concerned, Binotto views the speculation as a positive sign. "The fact that other drivers are linked to our team shows the credibility of our project is improving. The perception that we can become competitive is no longer a rumour, but a fact," he added.
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