New 2027 destination emerges for Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc as F1 driver market heats up

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Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc could turn to Audi if they’re looking for a new Formula 1 team in 2027 as the German manufacturing giants look to make their mark on the sport.

F1 Oversteer understands that Audi are looking to make an impact on the driver market after their first full campaign as Formula 1 manufacturers.

Sauber will become Audi in 2026, and Brazilian youngster Gabriel Bortoleto and German veteran Nico Hulkenberg will lead their opening efforts in F1.

Guenther Steiner has suggested that Bortoleto could be a future world champion, but a team like Audi expect immediate success, and that could see them looking to profit from a frenetic driver market.

Hulkenberg finally secured his first F1 podium at the British Grand Prix, but at 38 years old, he’s unlikely to be the man who will lead Audi for the foreseeable future.

That’s where current championship leader Oscar Piastri and Ferrari star Charles Leclerc come into the equation.

Piastri has been linked with a move away from McLaren despite leading the drivers’ championship.

Mercedes are among the teams Leclerc has reached out to as he becomes dissatisfied with Ferrari, but Audi are hoping to put themselves in the conversation to sign a top driver in time for the 2027 season.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

Audi hoping to sign a top F1 driver in 2027 with Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri considering their options

F1 Oversteer understands that there are several big moves in the driver market that are already in the works.

It’s believed that McLaren are well aware that keeping Piastri and Lando Norris together is going to be increasingly difficult going forward.

The tensions that arose between Norris and Piastri at the Singapore Grand Prix could be just the start, with six races remaining and both drivers hoping to win their first championship.

Sources suggest that the entire F1 grid is waiting to see what Max Verstappen will do at Red Bull next year.

Verstappen has been heavily linked with Mercedes, and that could set off a chain reaction of moves up and down the paddock, with the feeling within F1 suggesting that the Silver Arrows might be best placed to sign the four-time world champion.

Leclerc’s camp are talking to plenty of interested parties, and Audi have been alerted to the potential movement happening around them.

Jonathan Wheatley’s team are keen to prove they deserve to be among the top teams in Formula 1 and are hoping to land one of the top drivers on the grid.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Sauber from team principal to 2026 Audi future

Gabriel Bortoleto could be the key to Audi signing one of Formula 1’s top drivers

Bortoleto and Hulkenberg are confirmed for the 2026 season, but beyond that, Audi will have some freedom in the market.

F1 Oversteer sources believe Fernando Alonso is lining Bortoleto up for a move to Aston Martin, as he considers whether to finally retire from Formula 1.

Earlier in the season, Ted Kravitz suggested all top teams are keen on Bortoleto, and if he did move on, that would leave a space open for another driver to join.

However, that space could just as easily be opened up if Hulkenberg moves on.

Although he’s above Bortoleto in the drivers’ championship, the Brazilian has outperformed him in qualifying and without the German’s unexpected podium, there would be just four points between them.

It’s extremely unlikely that the grid stays as stable as it is for another year, but Audi have to be ready to capitalise.

James Vowles proved at Williams that months of speaking to Carlos Sainz was enough to convince him to join after his Ferrari exit. It means Wheatley and Mattia Binotto need to start laying the foundations to sign a championship-calibre driver now.