At Sauber, preparations are already underway for the team to join the Audi works in 2026.

For 2025, they will still be known as Sauber, or more precisely, Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber. However, any drivers they recruit for the upcoming season will probably join the team after the takeover is finalized.

The most recent information regarding Andreas Seidl’s hunt for a new driver partnership can be found in a story published by the Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport.

Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, the current drivers, seem to have reached their breaking point.

The driver from Finland has the experience to support a new manufacturer, but since the beginning of the previous season, his results have been patchy.

In his third season in Formula 1, Zhou Guanyu hasn’t accomplished much; his strong performance in Bahrain was very much the exception rather than the rule.

Many drivers are now thinking about their possibilities for 2025, which might lead to a lot of excitement in the driver market.

According to reports, Audi has now started talking to Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly of Alpine about a possible transfer.

Eddie Jordan called him “very talented” on the Formula For Success Podcast, and the former race winner might realize that this is the appropriate moment to advance in his Formula One career.

Alpine stars Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly are in talks with Audi.

When Andreas Seidl’s squad joins Formula 1, they seem eager to prove they mean business.

There were rumors that they intended to let go of Bottas at the end of 2023 but were unable to sign Nico Hulkenberg, their top target.

Hulkenberg is still very much a target for Audi, and similar to Ocon, he may not be too concerned about switching teams.

Given how bad things are for Alpine right now, it makes sense for Ocon to start talking to Audi about moving.

If the two Frenchmen wind up vying for the same spot on the squad, he could have to play better than teammate Pierre Gasly.

This is due to the fact that Audi’s main target has already decided to become a free agent and that a possible 2025 option was recently closed.

Esteban Ocon might be vying for the second Audi slot in the event that they secure their primary target.

According to the Gazzetta dello Sport source, Audi is “intent on strengthening” their driver lineup in preparation for their 2026 debut.

According to reports, Audi has “entered into discussions” with Gasly and Ocon about their contract expiration.

Carlos Sainz of Ferrari, who has undoubtedly been the most remarkable driver on the grid thus far this season, seems to be Audi’s primary objective.

It should come as no surprise that Ferrari chose to sign Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, when he became available in the offseason.

The 39-year-old British driver wasn’t eager to stay behind to see if Mercedes could master the upcoming set of rules because they were having trouble with the existing ones.

Given how interested Audi has been in Hulkenberg for some time, Ocon may find it difficult to secure the second seat if Sainz decides to join the company.

The 27-year-old is definitely in the conversation, though, if the Spaniard goes in a different way.