Sainz waits for Verstappen: these are the alternatives for Audi

What kind of driver are Audi looking for?

In the background, Audi are already busy preparing for their entrance into Formula 1. The Audi name will not be visible in F1 until 2026, but Andreas Seidl and his team are already working hard on transitioning from Sauber to Audi. An important part of that transition is the drivers for 2025. In 2025, Audi want to have the drivers in the car who will also be in the car in 2026. With expiring contracts for Guanyu Zhou and Valtteri Bottas, the team can go either way.

Audi have already filled the first position with Nico Hulkenberg. However, it is clear that Audi are looking for two experienced drivers. Sainz was seen as the top candidate, with Audi said to have two drivers in their 30s. Both must be fast, good at handling and proven to be able to lead a team to better performance.

Audi are clearly looking for drivers with experience. A rookie is not likely to enter the new project there, and that makes sense. Instead, Seidl and his team need drivers in the car who can steer the team. Audi has the finances and resources. The drivers will have to provide leadership there.

Waiting for Carlos Sainz

In that respect, it makes sense that Audi showed interest in Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard is arguably the fastest driver with an expiring contract. At Ferrari, Sainz is showing again this year that he is quite fast and can win races. Sainz also has the winner's mentality to keep improving and make the team better.

Sainz has shown the latter at Ferrari, but also previously at McLaren. There, incidentally, Sainz also worked with Seidl and Key, so the two will surely know that Sainz can manage a team well. Ideal for Audi, but do they have the luxury of waiting for Sainz, now that it appears the Spaniard would rather wait to see if the seats at Mercedes and Red Bull Racing become available to him as well. The longer Audi waits for Sainz, the fewer alternatives will remain.

Who are the alternatives to Sainz?

So, who are those alternatives? For that, Audi's eyes will be on Alpine. Two drivers with several seasons in F1 to their name, each with a race win on their record and an expiring contract. Esteban Ocon is the better of the two drivers, although it was the other way around in 2023.

However, both do have the disadvantage that they can be somewhat emotional. Both Ocon and Gasly can be quite resigned when faced with a setback. In addition, Ocon also has a reputation for not being the easiest driver for teammates to work with. So both have speed and experience. Their character is a question mark.

Sergio Perez has a calmer nature in that respect. The Mexican hopes to keep his seat at Red Bull Racing, but he has a good alternative with Audi. Perez and Hulkenberg already worked well together in their time at Force India and Perez is a proven race-winner. However, with two drivers over 35 at the start of 2025, it would mean a particularly 'old' line-up for Audi.

The same goes for Valtteri Bottas. Bottas is currently already at Sauber and the fact that Audi prefers Hulkenberg and Sainz suggests that the Finn will not necessarily be able to rely on a new contract. Yet Bottas has easily outclassed his teammate this year, won races for Mercedes and has a wealth of experience in F1.

Who should Audi choose?

Sauber are currently the team occupying the last spot in the constructors' standings. Not normally a luxury position for a team to bring in drivers, but the prospect of the team becoming a works team with Audi in 2026 provides the necessary attraction.

Sainz is the ideal man for Audi. Sainz is in the form of his life, mega fast, experienced and a great sign for Audi. In fact, the team should be patient and put everything on the Spaniard. After all, the alternatives do not come close to Sainz.

Most of the alternatives are simply too old and long past their peak by the time Audi really gets into F1. Ocon and Gasly, while having the right age and experience, certainly do not fit Audi as well as Sainz.

With Alpine's current performance, it is also not obvious that those two will soon commit their fate to the French racing team, especially when they know they have a slim chance of getting a seat at Audi. The same goes for Bottas, who could also still be retained as an alternative should Sainz find a place elsewhere.