The former driver and ex Haas boss said the German brand is an interesting option for the Spaniard and the Briton. Russell could explore options given Antonelli's dominance at Mercedes.
Günther Steiner has opened the debate on the future of Carlos Sainz and George Russell. The former Haas boss said Audi could be an interesting option for both drivers for 2028: "There is a lot of interest from drivers in signing for Audi for 2028, for next year they already have a fairly closed lineup, but maybe there could be a possibility in 2028 at Audi. It's a quite interesting option because they are making great progress" declared Steiner.
The former Haas director highlighted Audi's potential in Formula 1: "It seems that what they are doing is on the right track, I think there would be quite a few candidates and Carlos Sainz without a doubt" he stated. The Spaniard, who signed for Williams in 2025 after Ferrari did not renew his contract, has had a complicated season with an FW48 that has not lived up to expectations. The British team has gone from more to less and Sainz has scored only six points in the first eleven races.
Steiner also referred to George Russell's situation at Mercedes: "I think George Russell is also exploring options now knowing that he is currently with Kimi Antonelli. He doesn't want to stay with Kimi Antonelli forever because there he knows his future is limited, that's why he is trying to find new opportunities" he explained.
The Briton has had a season of ups and downs with a win in Australia and reliability issues that have cost him points. Antonelli, for his part, has led the championship since the third race and has established himself as Mercedes' star driver. Russell, who was the team leader in 2025, has seen how the young Italian has eclipsed him.
Audi has shown significant progress in its debut season: Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto have scored points regularly and the German team has improved its performance in recent races. Mattia Binotto, Audi's team principal, has already confirmed that the lineup for 2027 is practically closed but Steiner believes that 2028 could be the year in which the German brand goes for big signings.
Williams, for its part, has had a complicated season. The FW48 has not been competitive and the team has fallen to ninth position in the constructors' championship. Sainz has been the team's most prominent driver but his points have not been enough to lift the car's performance.
The possibility of Sainz and Russell joining Audi in 2028 is speculation, but Steiner believes it is a realistic option: "Audi is making great progress, it seems that what they are doing is on the right track" he insisted.
The Formula 1 driver market always brings surprises, and Sainz and Russell's moves will be closely followed in the coming months. Audi, for its part, continues to grow and could become an attractive destination for drivers looking for a long term project.
The F1 driver market always holds surprises, and Audi is emerging as an attractive destination for 2028. Sainz and Russell could find in the German brand the project they need to relaunch their careers. Time will tell if these moves materialize or remain mere speculation.
