Audi’s F1 Ambitions and Michael Schumacher’s Prospects

Audi’s acquisition of the Sauber team, set to rebrand as Audi in 2026, has led to widespread speculation about their future driver lineup. Reports from August 2024 indicated that Schumacher was a strong candidate for a seat with Audi, especially given his German heritage and the allure of an all-German driver lineup alongside compatriot Nico Hülkenberg.

However, by October 2024, reports suggested that Schumacher’s prospects with Audi had diminished. The team reportedly decided against offering him a seat for the 2025 season, leading to concerns about his future in Formula One.

Other Rumors and Career Developments

Beyond the Audi discussions, Schumacher’s name has surfaced in various other contexts within the motorsport community. In 2024, he transitioned to endurance racing, joining Alpine’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) team. This move marked a significant shift in his career, allowing him to gain experience in a different racing discipline.

Despite his endeavors in endurance racing, Schumacher’s primary ambition remains a return to Formula One. His tenure as a reserve driver for Mercedes in 2023 kept him connected to the F1 paddock, but securing a full-time seat has proven challenging. The competitive nature of Formula One, combined with limited available seats, has made his path back to the grid uncertain.

Reflecting on Schumacher’s Haas Tenure

Schumacher’s stint with the Haas F1 Team from 2021 to 2022 was a period of growth and learning. In his rookie season, the Haas car was not competitive, and the team finished the year without scoring any points. Schumacher’s best finish that year was 12th place at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 2022 season showed some improvement. Schumacher secured his first Formula One points at the British Grand Prix, finishing eighth, followed by a sixth-place finish in Austria. These performances highlighted his potential, but a series of high-profile crashes and inconsistent results overshadowed his achievements. Consequently, Haas decided to part ways with Schumacher at the end of the 2022 season, opting for the more experienced Nico Hülkenberg for 2023.

The Road Ahead

As of early 2025, Schumacher’s future in Formula One remains uncertain. While the Audi opportunity appears to have faded, the dynamic nature of motorsport means that new opportunities could arise. His ongoing participation in the WEC with Alpine keeps him active in top-tier racing, and his association with the Schumacher name continues to generate interest.

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Alpine’s Pierre Gasly is the latest driver to be of interest to the German manufacturer, who will complete their 75 per cent takeover of Sauber the year the new power unit regulations are introduced.

Sauber will become an Audi works team, with the Volkswagen-owned manufacturer supplying their own power units.

Several drivers have been linked to the new side, including Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, Williams’ Alex Albon and Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg.

READ: Lewis Hamilton warned to stop crying ‘too much’

Sainz is rumoured to have signed a pre-contract with Audi, although the general belief is that it’s not legally binding.

This gives him an option if Ferrari insist on only giving him a one-year contract extension for 2025, which is currently looking likely.

Albon joining Audi looks unlikely, with F1 journalist Edd Straw having revealed that the Germans are interested in Williams’ star driver.

According to RacingNews365, Hulkenberg is Audi’s top target, and would fit the side’s rumoured desire to have at least one German driver.

Hulkenberg is contracted only until the end of this season, so it’s definitely a possible move.

Even Gasly’s teammate Esteban Ocon has been suggested as a good option for Audi, with Lawrence Barretto noting that Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl is monitoring the Frenchman.

Both Alpine drivers are out of contract at the end of this year, as are both Sauber drivers.

As a result, if a driver can negotiate a two-year contract with the Hinwil-based side, then they’ll be in the team ready for Audi’s arrival.

Gasly is an interesting option, considering that he’s still just 27 years old and has proven to have strong pace at times.

READ: Carlos Sainz’s father makes massive Audi admission that will worry Ferrari

Any driver interested in Audi will need to deliver this year, as the German giants will be watching closely.

It’s Gazzetta dello Sport who reported that Gasly is a driver on their radar, something which might concern Alpine.

Alpine presumably won’t want to lose both drivers and will be keen to avoid either of them being heavily involved in silly season, especially after they have only just recovered from losing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

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Sainz Sr is an Audi driver and won them their first ever Dakar rally last week, whilst he also became the oldest driver to win what is regarded as the toughest competition in the world

At 61 years old, Sainz Sr is showing no signs of slowing down, although it’s currently unknown if Audi will be entering the Dakar in 2025 due to their preparations for Formula 1.

Audi are, of course, joining F1 in 2026, by merging with Sauber to create a works team.

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The German manufacturer are currently working on their power units, with Sainz Sr having no doubts that Audi will be a success in F1.

He points out “how seriously they take every project” and that failure isn’t an option.

“Audi is always a certainty [in terms of being successful],” said Sainz Sr, as reported by F1i.com. “After all, I know how seriously they take every project.

“I also know well what the famous German mentality means in practice, both the good sides and not-so-good sides, but we just have to have a lot of respect for the Volkswagen Group with Audi as part of it.”

Sainz Sr’s son has been linked with a move to Audi more than arguably any other driver on the grid.

His current Ferrari deal is set to expire this year and he’s expressed his intent on knowing his future for 2025 before the new campaign gets underway.

Reportedly, the 29-year-old wants a two-year extension but the Italians only want to give him a one-year deal for 2025.

The latter would open up the doors to move to Audi in 2026, with Sainz’s father admitting that the German manufacturer are discussed when in his home.

READ: Lando Norris warned about rejecting Red Bull

“We all know that Formula 1 is a special world, and I have a lot of respect for Audi,” Sainz Sr added. “In my eyes, it’s just a matter of time before they succeed in F1.

“I don’t have a crystal ball, but the moment Audi decides to enter F1, they already command a lot of respect from me with that.

“Of course, it makes sense at Carlos’ house to talk about what Audi can get done, all the more so because I am a member of that Audi family.”

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Audi will enter the sport as a powertrain supplier for Sauber, who by 2026, they’ll have a 75 per cent stake in.

As a result, Sauber will become an Audi works team when the new power unit regulations are introduced, something which will open up two more factory seats on the grid.

Hulkenberg is currently contracted to Haas until the end of 2024, meaning he’d likely need to try and get a deal for 2025 with the Americans to be considered by Audi in 2026.

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Racing for a German manufacturer would likely be a hugely proud moment for Hulkenberg, especially as he’s reaching the latter stages of his F1 career.

After being on the sidelines for three years, he proved in 2023 after replacing Mick Schumacher that he certainly still has what it takes to compete for points, whilst he was also a star over one-lap throughout the recently completed campaign.

There’s no doubting that the 36-year-old would’ve wanted more than just nine points this year, with Kevin Magnussen’s six points having left Haas at the foot of the Constructors’ Championship.

Similarly, to Aston Martin, Haas appeared to become weaker the more they upgraded their car, leaving the side with a conundrum for 2024.

Hulkenberg wasn’t afraid of criticising the team’s late-season upgrade, where they basically introduced a B-spec car.

Tyre wear was Haas’ huge issue in 2023, as they tended to fire up their tyres too quickly, resulting in them overheating.

Haas have significant work to do in order to please Hulkenberg and Magnussen, with both drivers likely to consider their options if the side’s 2024 car is just as weak on a Sunday.

For now, Hulkenberg isn’t ruling out anything, although his current focus is on seeing how 2024 goes and whether Haas can give him a “competitive car”.

READ: Max Verstappen gives Valtteri Bottas hilarious present

“Only time will tell,” Hulkenberg told Auto Motor und Sport, when asked if he’d consider a switch to Audi at the end of his Haas deal.

“Let’s see how the season goes next year. Do we have a competitive car? Which people are recommended for which tasks?

“I can’t answer with confidence now. We probably have to position ourselves a little differently internally so that the same thing doesn’t happen again [at Haas].”

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Several rumours have circulated over recent weeks suggesting that Audi are considering not joining the sport when the new power unit regulations are introduced in 2026, something which would leave Sauber with a lot of work to do.

As per their current agreement, Audi will obtain a 75-percent stake in Sauber come 2026, meaning that the Hinwil-based outfit will become an Audi works team.

Audi are going to be responsible for the power unit which they’re currently working on, although it’s been reported that the development of their engine isn’t going as planned.

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Little has been said between Sauber and Audi since their future partnership was confirmed, adding to the suggestions that the Volkswagen-owned manufacturer are having second thoughts.

Bravi has stated that this isn’t the case in the slightest, with the minimal communication for the time being purely being because Sauber are still partnered with Alfa Romeo until the end of the current season.

“Audi has a strong commitment to Formula 1, of course together with Sauber,” Bravi told media including RacingNews365.com.

“This commitment comes from a decision not only of the board of Audi but also the advisory board of Audi and the Supervisory Board of Audi Volkswagen. It’s a group decision and the commitment is there.

“Why there is a lack of communication is simple. We are the Alfa Romeo F1 team.

“So until the end of the year, we have certain limitations in communicating about the team, about the future, about the involvement of Audi and we fully respect Alfa Romeo for this.

“We don’t want to make any kind of announcement or more than what is strictly related to the race and the championship.

“The commitment, as I said, is there. We are working hard to develop the structure of the team.”

Leading the preparations for 2026 is ex-McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl, who became Sauber’s CEO during the winter break ahead of the 2023 season.

James Key has also joined Sauber from McLaren, with him being another high-profile addition to the company.

It’s not just big names who Sauber are signing, with the motorsport company adding new individuals on a “weekly basis” ahead of Audi’s 2026 arrival.

“We have a strong record recruitment plan in place,” Bravi said. “James Key is one, but we have on a weekly basis new appointments.

READ: Lewis Hamilton targeting 2023 Brazilian GP victory

“It’s not a matter of the involvement of Audi in financing the team or sustaining this development process.

“We have two owners, two shareholders, there is a governance in place according to the different stages of the transaction that will be completed ahead of the 2026 season.

“We are proceeding with the investment plan with everything in accordance with the governance that has been agreed.”

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It was reported by Radio Le Mans that they’d been informed by sources that Audi could decide to cancel their 2026 F1 entry, following a meeting by Audi’s board.

The Volkswagen-owned manufacturer are set to join the sport in 2026 and merge with Sauber, who they’ll have a 75% stake of by the team the new engine regulations are introduced.

Sauber will effectively become an Audi works team, that is if the rumours are definitely untrue.

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Audi have clearly taken notice of the rumours and have since made a statement, with the company insisting that their plans to enter the sport in 2026 “remains unchanged”.

“Audi’s F1 entry in 2026 is based on a decision of the Board of Audi AG in alignment with the Supervisory Board of Audi AG. As well as the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Group,” an Audi spokesperson told Motorsport-Total.com.

Several reports have recently stated that Audi’s development of their 2026 powertrain is behind the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull, suggesting that the VW-owned company could enter the sport as backmarkers if rapid progress isn’t made.

Many drivers have also been linked to the outfit, most recently Carlos Sainz.

The Ferrari driver’s rally legend father, Carlos Sainz Snr, even revealed that talks had taken place.

However, Mick Schumacher and four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel have also been linked to the team.

Audi are believed to want a German driver as part of their team, to raise the sport’s popularity in their home nation.

READ: Max Verstappen wins his ‘first legal championship’

Should they ultimately decide to cancel their entry, then this would likely leave Sauber in a huge mess, as they’ll need to quickly find a powertrain supplier for the new regulations.

This could open the door to Andretti, who recently received permission from the FIA to become an 11th team on the grid.

However, it’s down to F1 to approve the entry of the American team, something which isn’t guaranteed based on how unhappy most of the paddock is by the FIA granting Andretti permission.

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With Audi set to join the Formula 1 grid in 2026 as part of a partnership with Sauber, the question of whether Norris could be of interest to the Audi works squad has surfaced.

Norris is currently under contract with McLaren, a deal that extends until the end of 2025. 

This timeframe means that his contract will expire before the introduction of the new generation of challengers and power units for the following season, when Audi is poised to make its Formula 1 debut.

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Sky F1 reporter Craig Slater drew parallels between Norris and footballers like Jude Bellingham, stating, “If he were a footballer, I think he’d be in the 100 million category. 

“He’s young, he’s talented, he’s marketable as well.”

While Norris’s potential transfer value is high, his existing contract with McLaren would command a significant fee if another team were to seek his release before 2025. 

Red Bull has expressed interest in Norris for the future, but Slater believes that, as of now, no team would be inclined to pay the necessary sum for an early release.

Considering the possibilities, Slater raised the question of whether Audi might enter the picture. “Audi could be interesting in a couple of years’ time,” Slater suggested. 

“When they come into Formula 1, they will want a big name to be the face of their team. Might Lando Norris fit the bill in that regard? 

“Might he link up again with his former boss at McLaren, Andreas Seidl? 

“But a lot depends on where McLaren is at in a couple of years.”

Currently, McLaren is experiencing a resurgence, with their strong development program for the MCL60 propelling them into podium contention. Norris has achieved four second-place finishes in the 2023 Formula 1 season, indicating promising prospects for the team’s future.

Despite the potential allure of other teams, Slater emphasised that Norris shows no signs of wanting to leave McLaren during his current contract. 

READ: Toto Wolff says he will work on Hamilton-Russell tensions

“Lando, speaking to him face-to-face, I have no reason to doubt what he says,” Slater remarked. 

“He says he’s fully prepared to see out this contract and he’s ready to wait, even if it takes until the last year of his contract for McLaren to be ready to fight for wins and maybe championships.”

For Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri, their sights are set on chasing down Aston Martin and securing a P4 spot in the 2023 Constructors’ Championship, with a 49-point gap currently separating the two teams.

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Whilst Leclerc is currently contracted to Ferrari until the end of 2024, the general expectation is that he will sign an extension with the side.

However, the big question is what comes for the Monegasque afterwards?

Leclerc has often been seen as Ferrari’s golden boy and their best hope of claiming a first title since 2008; however, driver errors have downplayed these suggestions.

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In fact, Carlos Sainz is arguably the Maranello-based team’s lead driver currently, having not only claimed pole position and a podium at the side’s home race, but with him having also become the first non-Red Bull driver to win a race this season.

Sainz heroically won the Singapore Grand Prix this season, whilst Leclerc had to settle for fourth.

With Sainz leading Leclerc by 15 points in the Drivers’ Championship also, the Spaniard is looking set to defeat the Monegasque in the standings for the second time in three years.

Whilst Leclerc looked great at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix earlier in the year, he’s failed to really live up to his 2022 standards.

Even in 2022 though, when he was momentarily fighting for the title against Max Verstappen, it was poor driver errors which ended Leclerc’s pursuit.

He infamously crashed out of the French Grand Prix whilst leading, something which clearly dented his confidence.

It wouldn’t come as a huge shock if Leclerc were to remain with Ferrari for the rest of his F1 career, but does he have any other options if he wanted to depart.

Realistically, no.

Kew doesn’t rate Leclerc as highly as the likes of Max Verstappen or George Russell, something which he thinks would make Red Bull and Mercedes opt against a swoop for the Ferrari driver.

One option could be a move to Audi when they complete their 75% takeover of Sauber in 2026; however, it’s been reported that the German manufacturer are considerably behind Red Bull and Mercedes in the development of their power unit.

As a result, simply sticking with Ferrari does appear to be Leclerc’s best option, unless he’s prepared to return to the midfield on a project.

“I asked myself this question by looking at the alternatives,” Kew said on the GP Racing podcast.

“So, if and when [Lewis] Hamilton retires, I think Mercedes, based on current form, is more likely to go for Lando Norris. However, perhaps there is a turn of events where Lando Norris goes to Red Bull to partner Max Verstappen.

“Depending on how those play out, McLaren, upwardly mobile at the minute, is an option for Leclerc, but I don’t see Red Bull or Mercedes going for Leclerc as a driver and I think that’s because he is rapid, and his racecraft is good, but I think he’s in a category ever so slightly below Verstappen and Russell.

“As like a naturally talented driver, I don’t think he’s quite a level for them in terms of intellect and how that can drive the team forward.

READ: Why Williams boss’ words won’t change Logan Sargeant’s fate

“So then you look at the alternatives, which is maybe a mega payday at Sauber/Audi. Well, what you hear about them…you look at Sauber, they’re finally operating at the cost cap now they’ve had some investment from Ingolstadt, but they’ve made zero progress this season.

“And the rumours are Audi are months behind Red Bull Powertrains, months behind Mercedes with the 2026 engine regs, so basically, that’s not a competitive step forward.

“So, maybe you are better off staying at Ferrari just for a dearth of alternative opportunities.”

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Formula 1’s first Chinese driver is currently coming to the end of his current deal with Alfa Romeo-Sauber, which expires at the end of 2023.

Zhou is in a difficult position, given that Sauber’s F1 team will be taken over by Audi in 2026, with the German manufacturer set to gain a 75% stake in the outfit.

As a result, Alfa Romeo are ending their partnership with Sauber at the end of this season, meaning Sauber will likely be competing under their own name next season.

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Valtteri Bottas will continue with the team as his deal doesn’t expire until the end of 2024, although the expectation is that from 2025 onwards, Audi will start to have a say over the driver line-up.

Since joining F1 in 2022, Zhou has only ever been offered one-year deals, something he’s seemingly not wanting again.

He’s keen to have a secure seat for multiple seasons, something he arguably won’t have at Sauber.

Whilst his financial backing is a benefit for the Hinwil-based team, it’s not of real importance.

“That [a long-term F1 contract] is the target of course,” Zhou told media including RacingNews365.com.

“It’s not easy, because with, let’s say, Audi arriving and all these things, they need to take a little bit more time.

“But for me, of course, I do like to have a longer contract in order to be a bit more relaxed, rather than have a one-year contract.”

Zhou is many people’s favourite to remain with Sauber next season and presumably be offered another one-year deal, over the likes of Sauber Academy driver Theo Pourchaire, who is on the verge of claiming the Formula 2 title.

Aston Martin reserve and reigning F2 Champion Felipe Drugovich is another name who’s been linked recently to Zhou’s seat, suggesting that Sauber do have several options to consider.

READ: Christian Horner reveals huge change at AlphaTauri

However, for Zhou himself, remaining at Sauber next season is his “priority” and is something he’s “very keen on”.

“At the minute, this is the priority,” Zhou said.

“There’s not a lot of seats available. I’m very keen on staying where I am.”

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Bottas is currently contracted to Sauber until the end of 2024, having joined the team on a multi-year deal at the start of 2022.

The 34-year-old joined Alfa Romeo/Sauber at the start of last season after leaving Mercedes, with George Russell having taken his place alongside Lewis Hamilton.

Bottas has performed well for Alfa Romeo, but he’s failed to really shine.

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Team-mate Zhou Guanyu has arguably performed better, given how inexperienced he is compared to Bottas.

Whilst his performances haven’t been anything to write home about, Bottas’ experience would be very useful for Audi, with him expecting talks to be “happening soon”.

“We haven’t still spoken about ’26,” Bottas told the media including PlanetF1.com.

“I think those discussions are probably going to be happening soon. I think naturally when nothing is confirmed for some years there’s always speculation. So let’s see.

“It’s still a bit early for anyone to commit to ’26 so we’ll see.”

However, Audi are reportedly more interested in Carlos Sainz, someone who appears to already be looking towards the new power unit regulations.

It was reported that Sainz signed a “pre-contract” with the team for 2026, should he not remain at Ferrari.

The Spaniard’s team though, have insisted that, “Plan A is Ferrari. Plan B is Ferrari and plan C also remains Ferrari.”

When put to Bottas that Sainz was already thinking about 2026, the Finn admitting that “rumours” are always flying around.

“You know, there’s always rumours,” said the Finn.

Having raced for the Silver Arrows during their dominant spell, Bottas understands what it takes to be superior.

As a result, he can understand how Red Bull are currently feeling, given that they are clear of every team.

READ: Lewis Hamilton breaks silence on Apple pulling the plug

Despite this, Bottas admitted that he thought the gap between Red Bull and the likes of Mercedes would’ve reduced by now.

“I would have imagined by now with this new regulations that the gaps would be smaller at the top,” he said.

“But I think the new regs are still going to be more effective in the years to come with limitations on the wind tunnel testing, etc. So let’s give it still one or two more years. And then we’ll see.”

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