Vasseur: 'A bit ambitious' to talk about Audi driver line-up for 2026

©AlfaRomeo

Alfa Romeo F1 team boss Frédéric Vasseur insists its way too early to discuss the team's driver line-up for 2026, when partner Audi officially enters Formula 1.

Audi recently confirmed its tie-up with Sauber, the company that operates the Alfa Romeo F1 team, for its endeavor into Formula 1.

The collaboration has inevitably fueled a wave of speculation regarding the team's driver line-up. While Valtteri Bottas has expressed his hope of being able to "stick around" with the Hinwil squad until 2026, a report in Germany from well-known F1 reporter Ralf Bach claims that Audi views Mick Schumacher has its leading candidate for a seat at its team at some point in the future.

"I think it’s all about getting through 2023 for Mick," said Bach. "Because as I see it, his future lies with Audi. They want him and there have already been talks. I know for a fact that there are talks."

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However, Vasseur isn't inclined to make any projections on the drivers front so far in advance but expects Sauber to have multiple possibilities to choose from.

"As you said, it’s a bit ambitious to speak about drivers for 2026," said the Frenchman.

"We have the academy, we are trying to develop young ones and so but it will be in the middle because if you are speaking about young kids often in go-kart today, it will be more for 2030 or 2032.

©AlfaRomeo

"For sure, we have Valtteri on board, we have Zhou [Guanyu] on board , we have Theo [Pourchaire] in the pipeline.

"But we will have time to discuss about this and I’m not sure that you have so many drivers on the grid with contract after 2026."

In the interim, Sauber will end its commercial partnership with Alfa Romeo at the end of 2023. But Vasseur suggests the Swiss outfit could sign-up a new title sponsor for 2024.

"You have to disassociate the name of the team, which could be the title sponsor, and the name of the company," Vasseur added.

"The name of the company will stay Sauber. The name of the chassis will stay Sauber, but we could have a title sponsor coming in."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.