Audi's future works F1 team, already collaborating with Sauber, is considering two prominent German drivers to team up with Nico Hulkenberg, according to recent reports.
The Sun newspaper in the UK speculates that Mick Schumacher is a strong contender for the role. Meanwhile, Dr. Helmut Marko, speaking to Austria's Osterreich newspaper, hinted that retired four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel is actively seeking a comeback in Formula 1.
"Vettel harmonised perfectly with Jonathan Wheatley (at Red Bull) in the past," the newspaper detailed, "and he also knows Mattia Binotto from his time at Ferrari."
Valtteri Bottas, already racing for Sauber, is another potential candidate, now vacationing in California. During the August break, he has shared a photo of himself next to an Audi R8 featuring his racing number, 77.
Previously, Bottas expressed hopes that Binotto's new leadership might influence his contract discussions for 2025. "It is going to reset the talks a bit, because we have previously been in communication with Andreas (Seidl) and Oliver (Hoffmann) and now it's Mattia," Bottas explained. "So yeah, for sure that will change some things, so we need to speak."
Mika Salo, also a Finn, believes Bottas has a good chance of retaining his seat as he has been integral to Sauber's ongoing transition to Audi.
"When I moved to Toyota, nothing already existed," Salo shared with Iltalehti newspaper. "It wasn't easy, and then I got fired in the middle of it all. I hope Valtteri will be able to reap the benefits."
"Alpine is still being speculated, but I don't really see any point in moving there," Salo continued. "It would be better if he could continue where he is already. I saw him in Hungary, but I didn't bother to ask him about this, because I knew he wouldn't tell me anything anyway," Salo concluded with a laugh.
