Four-time Champion Sebastian Vettel May Be Angling for Return to F1 Seat

Two German drivers—including one who may be a surprise to some—are reportedly near the top of team owner Audi's Formula 1 list to join Nico Hulkenberg next year at Sauber.

The Sun newspaper in Britain believes Mick Schumacher is being seriously considered for the role, while team consultant Helmut Marko told the Austrian media outlet Osterreich newspaper this week that retired four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel is still pushing for a return to Formula 1.

Vettel worked with former Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley in the past and he also knows former Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto. Both are now key figures in the Audi program.

Another obvious candidate for Audi's second driver spot is Sauber incumbent Valtteri Bottas, who is currently in California—and he posted a photo of himself alongside an Audi R8 emblazoned with his race No. 77.

Earlier, Bottas said he hoped Binotto's arrival as boss might change the course of his 2025 contract talks.

"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," said Bottas. "So yeah, for sure that will change some things, so we need to speak."

Fellow Finn and former F1 driver Mika Salo also thinks Bottas is still in with a chance of retaining his seat, having been a part of the transition from Sauber to Audi so far.

"When I moved to Toyota, nothing already existed," Salo said. "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. 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."