P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Audi will enter Formula 1 in 2026 but are busy making big plans already.
Sauber-run Stake, who will become Audi in 2026, reportedly has Esteban Ocon high on their list of driver targets for their future operations. Andreas Seidl, the ex-McLaren team principal leading Audi’s arrival, has considered Ocon among other drivers and has held meetings with driver managers about the team’s future. The team currently known as Alfa Romeo will be called Team Stake F1 this year before Audi takes over in 2026. Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will continue as drivers this season, but they need to improve their performance to secure their positions. Ocon’s Alpine contract expires this year, and he has shown strong performance, outperforming Fernando Alonso and finishing just eight points behind Pierre Gasly despite multiple retirements. While Alpine seems content with Ocon and Gasly, there is uncertainty due to the departure of senior management who recruited them, and Ocon could become a key option for the Audi-backed team.
