Forward of what’s anticipated to be a fairly intense foolish season as drivers vie for one of the best cockpits, Audi has discovered itself on the centre of the market discuss because it seems to be for the celebs that it desires to hold into its debut marketing campaign in 2026.
Its method has turn out to be particularly intriguing after Purple Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko revealed forward of the Chinese language Grand Prix that his squad discovered itself unable to compete with a “lucrative” offer that had been made to Carlos Sainz.
However whereas the Audi-owned Sauber squad insists that it’s far-off from making a call on its line-up, the Swiss outfit is evident that it’ll not simply be bit-part gamers in how issues shake out.
Talking concerning the Sainz rumours, Sauber’s staff consultant Alessandro Alunni Bravi stated his squad was in a much more highly effective place within the driver market than it had been previously.
“There are 14 drivers and not using a contract fastened for subsequent yr and, as all of the groups, we’re talking with completely different drivers,” stated Alunni Bravi.
“It isn’t the time for us to take any determination. It is time to present our drivers with a performing automotive.
“However, let me say, we’re completely happy that plainly we will play, a job, a unique function within the driver marketplace for the long run, due to the Audi announcement and all of the investments that can be performed as a way to enhance our staff.
“I believe that, whether it is excellent news for our staff, it’s that lastly we’re enticing. And we’re not the spectators. We’re a participant out there.”
Frederic Vasseur, Group Principal and Basic Supervisor, Scuderia Ferrari, and Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Group Consultant, Stake F1 Group Kick Sauber
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Alunni Bravi didn’t wish to be drawn on the place issues stood particularly with Sainz, as he stated others revealing particulars about what might or might not be taking place was a part of a ‘recreation’ to get one of the best offers.
“It isn’t applicable to debate or to reveal what might be the dialogue in place,” he stated. “Nobody actually is aware of what different groups are providing to the drivers or discussing with the drivers. We do not wish to be a part of a recreation that’s performed by others.”
As a substitute, he stated the primary focus for his outfit now was on bettering efficiency so it may get itself right into a points-scoring place.
“Each driver is talking with lots of groups to grasp the scenario, to grasp if there might be a typical imaginative and prescient on the venture, particularly for a staff like us that’s in full transformation course of forward of 2026,” he added.
“However we’re centered on our drivers, and we respect our drivers. We all know that we have to ship a greater efficiency as a staff. And this is step one to begin deciding what would be the driver line-up for the long run.
“We have to consolidate our efficiency. Thus far, we did not rating factors so I believe that the primary goal and the precedence for the staff is to begin scoring factors, after which to method the drivers’ market: beginning with dialogue with our drivers after which having, after all, open eyes available on the market.”