Audi could now deny 10x F1 race winner ‘ideal’ drive after 100% Sauber takeover

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Audi has secretly bought the remaining 75% of the shares in the Sauber F1 team but is not yet convinced that Valtteri Bottas or Zhou Guanyu should get a contract for 2025.

Question marks are lingering over the driver line-up in Hinwil, Switzerland for next year with Bottas and Zhou both out of contract. Sauber signed Bottas to a three-year deal to join while operating as Alfa Romeo in 2022. While Zhou agreed to a new one-year deal last September.

Now, the Finnish and Chinese racers are fighting for their future at Sauber, now operating as Stake F1 Team, ahead of Audi taking over the outfit in 2026. But Bild reports that Audi is not yet convinced that either pilot merits an extension for 2025 as it starts to put plans in place.

Audi finalises its 100% takeover of Sauber with its 2026 F1 project fully underway

Audi initially only acquired a 25% minority stake in Sauber in January 2023 to secure the VW subsidiary a spot on the 2026 Formula 1 grid. But Bild notes that the four rings of Ingolstadt, Bavaria has now secretly secured the remaining 75% to claim full control over the operation.

The 2026 F1 season will mark the first time that Audi has ever had a team in the pinnacle of motorsport. It has also already been working on its project for some time, with test benches experimenting a number of V6 engines, electric motors and control electronic components.

Audi could drop Bottas and Zhou with both Sauber drivers still to convince

But one of the biggest question marks concerning Audi’s entry to F1 is who will drive for the team when Sauber bows out with Bottas and Zhou out of contract after 2024. Well, the pair could yet secure extensions. But Audi is not yet convinced to keep Bottas or Zhou for 2025.

Bottas and Zhou have so far failed to convince Audi ‘across the board’ recently as the brand works to finalise the team’s 2025 driver line-up. While Audi will not enter F1 until 2026, it is keen to have drivers in place who can help to lead a large part of its development interests.

Bottas led Sauber’s efforts in his first two years at the team whilst operating as Alfa Romeo. He scored 49 points for P10 in the 2022 drivers’ standings after joining from Mercedes, and took 10 points for P15 in 2023. Zhou only scored six points over each season for 18th place.

Racing for Audi in 2026 has also long been 10-time F1 Grand Prix winner Bottas’ desire. He discussed it at the Bahrain GP, noting, via RacingNews365: “My priority, as I’ve said before, would be getting involved in the Audi project. For me, that’s really tempting and ideal.”

Which Formula 1 drivers does Audi have its eyes on for 2025?

Audi is discussing several potential replacements, with Carlos Sainz of interest after Ferrari’s decision to sign Lewis Hamilton for 2025. Sainz is Sauber managing director Andreas Seidl’s preferred candidate, too, having worked together at McLaren in the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

But Sainz is yet to offer any signs that he is willing to switch racing for the Scuderia to joining a project like Audi. While Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg is also a main target for Audi to hire a German driver. Mick Schumacher could also return to F1 with Audi as another German racer.