The Audi takeover of the Sauber team feels as though its been in the offering forever and a day. The German auto brand accelerated their takeover of the team this year, announcing in January they were acquiring the remaining shares in the Swiss based F1 outfit.
The expectation in the paddock is that Audi will not lend their name to the Sauber team until 2026, when the new F1 power unit regulations come into force. Its easy to see why Audi wish to delay their big arrival until the team is no longer powered by Ferrari units and the new Audi V6 is firmly ensconced in the back of the Swiss designed chassis.
Audi secure Hulkenberg’s services
In the past seven days, Audi announced the signing of Nico Hulkenberg, who last drove for the Sauber team a decade ago for a single season between stints at the Force India outfit.
Hulkenberg was forced to sit out of F1 for almost two years, playing bit part roles such as standing in for Sebastian Vettel when he contracted COVID-19. Then the irate Guenther Steiner decided enough was enough with the team’s policy of recruiting rookie drivers with cash to bring recalling first Kevin Magnussen and then Nico Hulkenberg for the Haas F1 2023 campaign.
Hulkenberg has a reputation for being super quick in qualifying and his return saw him beat his team mate 15-7 in these sessions. Magnussen though has steadied the ship this year and with the six qualifying sessions including the Sprint in China, he currently sits 3-3 with his flying German heading into another Sprint weekend in Miami.
Nico has had the better of his team mate in the races too. Last year he closed out the 22 event long season 13-9 with the German finishing the season in P15 while Magnussen was P19. The current tally after five races in 2024 is Hulkenberg on four points and Magnussen with just the one.
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Audi: “Essential to have best possible drivers”
Audi clearly believe Nico Hulkenberg to be at least as good if not a upgrade on the Sauber pairing this season of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guangu. The German manufacturer is reportedly not impressed with either of the current incumbents and wants to establish its driver line up as early as possible.
Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Andreas Seidl, who has been recruited by Audi to oversee their entry into Formula One made clear he believed the driver line up to be crucial off the team hoped to achieve success.
“It is essential for us to have the best possible driver duo on the grid and it also makes sense for them to be in the car in 2025 to support the project from the beginning,” said Seidl.
“The drivers can also help us when it comes to motivation and development. That’s why Nico is a great choice. There is no doubt that he is fast and with his experience, teamwork and technical understanding he has exactly what we need.”
Bottas and Zhou harmony
It s been the worst kept secret in Formula One that Audi are desperate to secure the services of Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard is the non-Red Bull form driver of the year so far, claiming a race win when Verstappen struggled with brake issues in Australia. He has added two third place finishes behind the Red Bull pairing to a P5 in China, but his absence from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to appendicitis means his team mate Charles Leclerc is for now ahead of him in the drivers’ title race.
Despite concerns that bringing Hulkenberg in alongside Magnussen would create fireworks within the Haas team due to their very public spat at the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix, the pair have worked well together. Magnussen having been penalised during the race I Saudi had no chance of reaching the points, held up a train of cars to allow Nico to build a gap large enough he would make his final tyre change and retain his tenth position.
However, Sky F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham now warns Audi that pairing Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz might create fireworks. In Pinkham’s opinion the current line up of Bottas and Zhou have given the team a healthy dynamic. While more exciting on paper, the proposed Audi lineup of Sainz and Hulkenberg may be more about chasing “headlines” than team harmony.
“Bottas has actually had a decent upturn in form of late. He’s been brilliant the last couple of races. I really like Zhou as well, I think they’re both really good teammates,” said Pinkham.
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Beware of “headline grabbing” driver pairing
“I think they gel pretty much with anyone. They’re not difficult, are they?
“I can see that the Sainz-Hulkenberg pairing would grab the headlines a bit more. Obviously Sainz needs to secure a seat and should really have his pick given his run of form.
“But I could see there being more fireworks between Hulkenberg and Sainz, than say, Hulkenberg and Bottas or Hulkenberg or Zhou. What dynamic are you looking for within the team?”
Of course Sainz is waiting to see if Sergio Perez has another downturn in form in the hope he may be offered a drive for the world champions in 2025. With Audi now removing the deadline for Sainz to accept their offer, the waiting game over Perez’s form and his possible replacement now begins.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
