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Audi's F1 debut will be in 2026, but the brand is already making moves and starting to put together a team at Sauber. Mattia Binotto will be at the helm, along with Jonathan Wheatley, as the power unit program continues to grow stronger.
There is, however, still one piece of the puzzle that is very publicly missing: the team's second driver. Nico Hulkenberg has been signed on a long-term contract with the team, and he fits one box. The other box, however, is left open.
By the looks of it, Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon were the two drivers that the team wanted to sign, but neither of the two is available on the market. Sainz went to Williams, while Ocon signed with Haas.
With the F1 driver market still very much a dynamic carousel, there are a few drivers who could possibly fit the bill. Who are these drivers? Let's take a look.
Top 3 possible contenders for the second seat at Audi
1. Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing)
Yes, this option might come as a surprise; but at this stage, it seems very realistic. The Mexican's future at Red Bull is not as ironclad as it might have appeared at first. The driver is fighting for his career in Formula 1 and if his performances don't show the kind of upside that warrants his stay with the team, he won't be around for long.
With that being said, if Perez does get the boot, rest assured that the Mexican's agents will already be having a conversation or two with Audi. What he brings with him is the experience of being a part of a championship-contending squad for the last four years. What he also brings is a ton of experience in the sport and a load of sponsorship money.
The Mexican might not be the best in terms of overall performance, but it is safe to say that some of his lack of results can be attributed to Red Bull's pressure-intensive environment. That said, Perez would be a great addition to Audi.
2. Daniel Ricciardo (Visa Cash App RB)
Ricciardo is in a do-or-die situation at RB in the second half of the season, and what appears to be the case here is that the Australian might still lose his seat as Red Bull puts together a plan to replace Perez.
At that stage, Ricciardo is more than likely to be left without a drive. The Australian has had a decent performance ever since the chassis was changed in China. If the driver does move to another team, a seat with a major car manufacturer might not be too bad a thing for him.
A big star like Ricciardo will also bring the much-needed eyeballs for Audi as the German brand doesn't have the star power one would associate with such a big name.
3. Gabriel Bortoleto
A name that might surprise quite a few would be the Brazilian youngster Gabriel Bortoleto. The McLaren junior is currently competing in F2 and his performances have been quite impressive. In just his rookie season in the series, he's already second in the championship standings and has had multiple race wins.
If Audi is looking to nurture an F1 talent in the long term, then Bortoleto could be a great choice.
