Audi now adds ‘incredible’ 27-y/o to F1 driver shortlist beside Albon and Sainz

Follow us on Google Discover

Audi has now added Alpine ace Pierre Gasly to its shortlist of driver targets ahead of turning Sauber into the German automotive giant’s factory Formula 1 squad in 2026.

The Hinwil, Switzerland-based outfit will race under the name Stake F1 Team over the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Sauber sealed a new title sponsorship deal ahead of becoming Audi’s F1 entry. The team operated as Alfa Romeo owing to sponsorship purposes from 2019 to 2023.

But Audi is already looking ahead and is laying the foundations for its long-awaited F1 entry in 2026 with Sauber. That is according to Gazzetta dello Sport, which now reports that Gasly is among a raft of names that Audi is considering possibly signing to drive for Stake F1 Team.

Audi adds Pierre Gasly to its 2025 Stake F1 Team driver shortlist

Audi has its eyes on Gasly, as well as Esteban Ocon – the 27-year-old’s current teammate at Alpine. The German giants also appreciate Williams driver Alex Albon and Ferrari star Carlos Sainz. Audi is considering the quartet as the drivers are due to be out of contract after 2024.

Gasly agreed to sign an initial two-year contract worth $5m (£4m) a season plus $3m (£2m) in bonuses to join Alpine. His deal to replace Fernando Alonso at the Enstone-based squad also includes an option for 2025. But Audi is now tempted to try and snap Gasly up, as well.

Alpine ace Pierre Gasly is one of several drivers on Audi’s radar

Journalist Edd Straw also suggested recently that Stake F1 Team are considering Albon for a 2025 seat. The Sauber-run squad are even willing to pay the 27-year-old ‘extremely well’ on a long-term contract. But Williams want to build their squad around the London-born Thai.

Meanwhile, Lawrence Barretto has suggested that Sauber Group CEO Andreas Seidl has his eyes on fighting Alpine for Ocon. The 27-year-old also ranks highly in the Switzerland team’s shortlist. Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas are only under contract with Sauber for just 2024.

Yet, RacingNews365 claims that Nico Hulkenberg is Audi’s top target for a seat with Stake F1 Team in 2025. The 36-year-old is only under contract for Haas in 2024. Haas have also split with Guenther Steiner, who blocked an approach from Sauber for the German during 2023.

So, while Audi has now added Gasly – who Max Verstappen called ‘incredible’ after sealing a podium finish at the 2019 Brazilian GP with Toro Rosso – to its driver shortlist, Sauber have a number of alternative targets for one of the team’s seats during the 2025 Formula 1 season.