From 2026,
Audi will enter
Formula 1. The German carmaker will be entering and taking over from
Stake F1 Team, but that will change when the new engine regulations go into effect. That is not the only thing that will change within the team, as it seems that
Nico Hulkenberg is already as good as settled for a contract.
Currently,
Guanyu Zhou and
Valtteri Bottas are still driving for the Stake
F1 Team, but
Audi are already preparing to change that driving lineup for 2026.
'Hulkenberg almost complete with Audi'
F1-Insider.com reported on Wednesday afternoon that the deal between Hulkenberg and Audi is already almost complete. The contract, which would be a three-year contract, would only need to be signed. meaning that the German will drive for the team from 2025, a year before Audi's entry point.
It also seems to be finished for Bottas at the team currently called
Stake F1 Team, so the ideal successor from the Finn is
Carlos Sainz. Seidl is waiting for the Spaniard to make a decision on his future. The CEO of Audi's future
Formula 1 team would like an answer from Sainz around the middle of May, otherwise, the team will switch to other contenders, for example,
Pierre Gasly or
Esteban Ocon. So time is running out for the
Ferrari driver.