Audi needs to show decisiveness: Will the team go for past glory or youth?
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- Ludo van Denderen
It was a hefty setback for Audi. For months, the future F1 team had bet on the arrival of Carlos Sainz, but after much deliberation, the Spaniard opted for an adventure at Williams. Plan C must now come into effect (as Plan B with Tsunoda is also impossible) and the chances are this means continuing with Valtteri Bottas. Or will the current Stake F1 opt for a young star after all and keep an eye on the future?
In any case, Audi cannot wait very much longer to make a decision. With Sainz having secured a deal at Williams, it is expected that the remaining seats on the grid will soon be filled - leaving fewer and fewer options for the Germans. Decisiveness is therefore called for from new strongman Mattia Binotto, who recently took charge of the F1 project. The former Ferrari team boss is reportedly leaning towards a driver with the necessary experience.
Continuing with Bottas is obvious
If Audi want to go for a more seasoned driver alongside the also 'old' Nico Hulkenberg, it is obvious that Valtteri Bottas will get a second chance. The Finn has already indicated he does not want a one-year contract, and with fewer and fewer seasoned drivers available on the market, Bottas has an important leverage point.
However, the question is whether Audi is wise to officially embark on its F1 adventure with two older drivers for 2026. At the launch of the first car, the duo will be 72 years old in total, by far the oldest combination on the grid. Could that really be the image Audi wants to project; two seasoned drivers at a young and fresh team?
What young talent is available to Audi?
For Audi's image, the manufacturer would perhaps be wiser to put a young talent alongside the seasoned Hulkenberg - who has shown this season that he can structurally score points with a car that is anything but top notch (from Haas F1). There are plenty of them. Think of Théo Pourchaire (20), currently test and reserve driver for Sauber and reigning Formula 2 champion. Or Zane Maloney, also already attached to Sauber and currently number four in F2.
Gabriel Bortoleto - also active in F2 and belonging to the McLaren academy- is also already being linked. The Brazilian could be a perfect match for Audi: young, talented and Brazilian. The South American country in particular craves a new F1 driver, the first since Felipe Massa quit. So for Audi, Bortoleto could be an asset not only on the track, but certainly off it given his commercial value.
Audi is thus at a turning point, but on paper the choice does not seem so difficult: With a young talent, Audi could have a bright future.