P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Nico Hulkenberg has expressed that he wasn’t “surprised” that Carlos Sainz turned down the chance to partner him at Sauber/Audi in F1.
Audi acted swiftly in the driver market, securing Hulkenberg’s signature for a multi-term deal as they prepare for their F1 debut in 2026. Despite courting Sainz, he decided to decline Audi’s offer and signed with Williams, leaving Sauber scrambling to find Hulkenberg’s teammate for next season. Hulkenberg expressed his lack of surprise at Sainz’s decision, understanding that strategic positioning played a significant role. Sauber COO acknowledged the challenge of competing against Audi’s works team, with Jacques Villeneuve praising Sainz’s move to Williams as a smart decision due to his experience and intelligence. Sainz himself is confident about adapting to the new challenge at Williams despite the shift down the F1 order.
