Plans are already afoot at Sauber ahead of becoming the Audi works team in 2026.
They will remain Sauber – or technically Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber – for 2025, but any driver they sign this season for the following year will likely be part of the team when the takeover is complete.
A report from the Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport has shared the latest update about Andreas Seidl’s search for a new driver partnership.
The writing appears to be on the wall for current drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.
The Finnish driver has the experience to help an emerging manufacturer, but his performances have been inconsistent since the start of the last season.
Zhou Guanyu is in his third year of Formula 1 but hasn’t pulled up any trees in that time, with his decent showing in Bahrain very much the exception rather than the rule.
There are several drivers currently considering their options for 2025 which could make the driver market very exciting.
Audi have now reportedly entered discussions with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and his teammate Pierre Gasly over a potential move.
Described as ‘very talented’ by Eddie Jordan during the Formula For Success Podcast, the one-time race winner may recognise that now is the right time to take the next step in his F1 career.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber from team principal to Audi future
Audi have entered discussions with Alpine stars Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly
Andreas Seidl’s team appear to be keen to show they mean business as soon as they enter Formula 1.
There was talk that they wanted to remove Bottas from the team at the end of 2023 but couldn’t bring in preferred target Nico Hulkenberg.
Hulkenberg is very much still on Audi’s list of targets and like Ocon, might not be too worried about leaving his current team to make the switch.
Alpine are in a world of trouble right now and it makes sense for Ocon to enter discussions with Audi over a move.
He may need to outperform teammate Pierre Gasly if the two Frenchmen end up competing over one spot in the team.
That’s because Audi’s top target is already set to become a free agent and one potential option for 2025 has just been closed off…
READ MORE: Alpine driver Esteban Ocon’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Esteban Ocon could be fighting for number-two Audi seat if they sign top target
The report from Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that Audi are ‘intent on strengthening’ their driver line-up ahead of their 2026 entry.
Audi have reportedly ‘entered into discussions’ with Ocon and Gasly due to their expiring contracts.
It appears as though the main target for Audi is Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz who has been arguably the most impressive driver on the grid so far this season.
It’s no surprise that Ferrari decided to bring in seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton when he became available over the winter.
Mercedes are struggling with the current regulations and the 39-year-old Brit wasn’t keen to stick around to see if they were going to nail the next ruleset.
If Sainz does decide to join Audi, then Ocon may struggle to nail down the second seat given how keen they’ve been on Hulkenberg for some time.
However, if the Spaniard heads in a different direction, then the 27-year-old is very much in the conversation.
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