P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull says it can’t match "very lucrative" Audi F1 offer to Sainz
Carlos Sainz and his management team have been in talks with all F1 teams with openings for next season, after Lewis Hamilton will replace him at Ferrari. Until Fernando Alonso’s recent extension with Aston Martin, Sainz had been considering offers from eight teams, as only Ferrari and McLaren had confirmed their 2025 line-ups. A potential move to Red Bull for Sainz, possibly replacing Sergio Perez, is a prominent option, especially if Max Verstappen decides to leave due to internal team conflicts. Audi has shown interest in Sainz for their 2026 F1 entry following his success in the Dakar Rally using their machinery. Helmut Marko from Red Bull acknowledged Sainz’s strong performance but noted they can’t compete with the lucrative offer from Audi. There were also discussions around Liam Lawson potentially getting a full-time F1 drive amidst rumors of a possible Ricciardo/Lawson swap in-season.
