Vasseur eyes up the top in F1 with Audi: "Best option for the future"

Frédéric Vasseur believes his team becoming an Audi factory team from the 2026 Formula 1 season onwards is the "best option" for the future. There are no guarantees that Vasseur will remain as team principal, but he is delighted to welcome the German branch. 

Working up the grid

The team haven't been getting the best results under their current guise as Alfa Romeo. Though they're currently in a battle with Aston Martin for a sixth-place finish in the Constructors' Championship though would be considered a good achievement for Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou. When Audi arrive with their own engines in 2026, there is an expectation that the team will rise towards the top of the Formula 1 leaderboard. 

In his initial reaction to the news that broke on Wednesday, team boss Vasseur highlights this point and the responsibility that brings. 

"The partnership between Audi AG and Sauber Motorsport is a key step for our team as we continue to make progress towards the front of the grid. To become Audi’s official works team is not only an honour and a great responsibility: it’s the best option for the future and we are fully confident we can help Audi achieve the objectives they have set for their journey in Formula One," Vasseur said in the press release.