'Worrying' Sainz Audi rejection sign changes required - Steiner

Guenther Steiner has labelled Carlos Sainz's rejection of Audi as "worrying" as Mattia Binotto assumes control of the project.

Audi had been long-time courters of Sainz, even before the news came in February that he would be leaving Ferrari to make way for Lewis Hamilton, with the Spanish driver linked to almost every team on the grid. 

Ultimately, after a protracted saga, Sainz agreed a deal to sign for Williams, having been wooed by the project mapped out by James Vowles, and will team up with Alex Albon from 2025.

Binotto has been appointed as Chief Operating and Chief Technical officer of Sauber Motorsport, overseeing preparations for Audi's 2026 arrival, with a second driver alongside Nico Hulkenberg still required.

The fact that Sainz rejected the chance to work with a manufacturer team to sign for a privateer is "worrying" to Steiner.

"One of the worrying things was when Carlos Sainz didn't sign for Audi," Steiner explained on the RacingNews365 podcast.

"Audi or Volkswagen Group is the second biggest OEM in the world as far as I know and one of the best drivers in F1 doesn't want to race for them, but signs for a private team. 

"I wouldn't say that that is the reason for it, but all these together, I think Audi decided to change because it is not where it wants to be. 

"There are a lot of people telling them to speed up their investment because otherwise, it wouldn't be good for Formula 1 if Audi comes in in 2026 and is a backmarker. That wouldn't be good for anybody.

Not surprised by Binotto

Since leaving Ferrari at the end of the 2022 season, Binotto had kept a largely low profile, but was enticed back into F1 when Audi reshuffled its management. 

Former McLaren boss and project head Andreas Seidl was removed from his post as CEO, with the Italian drafted in. 

"I am not surprised, and we didn't discuss any detail, but I spoke two times with him since he signed, but very briefly," Steiner explained of good friend Binotto's move.

"There is a massive project going on, and he needs to focus on that instead of talking to me, but am I surprised [he went to Audi?]

"I am positively surprised for one thing that they took action because they must have seen something which wasn't right and from a lot of people outside [the team], there was a lot of doubt.

"I wouldn't say criticism, but doubt - 'what is going on at Audi, we never hear anything? - there is nothing really going on, Kick Sauber is struggling and that will be the Audi team in 2026.

"We are all thinking and talking and somebody must have realised that there is not enough going on.