Audi boss unlikely to hire driver he once called a ‘failure’ to partner Nico Hulkenberg in 2025

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The summer break is a time for Formula 1 teams to recuperate before a busy finale to the season, but team bosses will have spent plenty of time thinking about their next moves on and off the track.

Sauber arguably have more to think about than anyone else on the grid given their current predicament.

Current driver Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu have both failed to score a point and that looks unlikely to change given their recent performances.

The Chinese driver rarely threatens to reach Q2 in qualifying, while even with all of his experience, Bottas simply can’t hold onto a place in the top ten during any Grand Prix.

Bold changes have been made behind the scenes at Audi, who have already taken over the Sauber F1 program and will be making their official debut in 2026.

Jonathan Wheatley has been poached from Red Bull to take over as team principal, while Mattia Binotto will head up Audi’s F1 project in place of Andreas Seidl.

A report from Auto Motor und Sport suggests that Binotto’s arrival within the team could spell bad news for a driver who would potentially like to fill their second seat next season.

In an interview with oe24, Red Bull chief advisor Helmut Marko suggested that Sebastian Vettel would be very keen on a return to Formula 1.

He specifically mentioned Audi as an option, given the German team have already committed to one German driver – Nico Hulkenberg – and wouldn’t be against an all-German line-up.

However, it looks as if Binotto being brought in to run Audi goes against Vettel’s chances.

His previous comments when he was in charge of the four-time world champion at Ferrari suggested they didn’t have the strongest relationship.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber from team principal to Audi future

Mattia Binotto’s arrival at Audi counts against Sebastian Vettel’s F1 return chances

The report from AMuS talks about the fact that Marko ruled out a return to F1 with Red Bull for Vettel.

However, they go on to say that Binotto joining Audi is a ‘decisive’ factor that ‘speaks against’ Vettel’s hopes of returning to the paddock.

Binotto played an important part in Vettel’s departure from Ferrari, replacing him in 2020 with Carlos Sainz and forcing the German to end his Formula 1 career with Aston Martin.

The report concludes that Vettel driving for Audi currently seems ‘unrealistic’ and it’s ‘unlikely’ he would work under Binotto again.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Sauber and Audi F1 chief Mattia Binotto

Binotto admits Vettel’s time at Ferrari was a ‘failure’

In an interview, via Formula 1, after Vettel’s time in F1 came to an end, Binotto was asked about Vettel’s comment where he said he failed with the team because he didn’t win another world championship.

Binotto replied: “I think he is somehow right, because when he joined Ferrari, he was ambitious, his objective was to win the title with Ferrari, and I think together with himself, it was our dream and our objective as well.

“It has been a failure for him, but it has been a failure all together as a team.

“He has been very close, or the closest he has been was 2017 and 2018, so we had a few opportunities.

“We didn’t get it and I think when your final objective is to do that, and you do not achieve it, it’s a failure.”

Vettel has been named as one of the hardest-working drivers in Formula 1 and that dedication would prepare him for life back in the sport should the opportunity arise.

However, Bottas appears to be the favourite to sign for Audi alongside Hulkenberg at this stage given the lack of alternatives.

A large proportion of F1 fans would love to see Vettel make a return to the sport one day, but it seems highly unlikely that an opportunity will arise with Audi for next year or beyond.