Source: REUTERS/Michaela Stache
[Saba Sports News] Recently, Audi F1 Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley publicly stated his hope to secure Max Verstappen for Audi in the future, while acknowledging the current impracticality of such a move. As the most dominant driver in current F1, Verstappen is naturally a target every team dreams of acquiring, being the top choice in terms of skill, age, and long-term competitiveness. The Audi works team is set to officially enter F1 in 2026, currently operated by Sauber, thus its overall strength remains in a building phase. This season, the Sauber team has consistently lingered near the bottom of the constructors’ championship, a performance level clearly insufficient to seriously attract Verstappen. Wheatley admitted that even though he maintains a good relationship with Verstappen’s camp, it wouldn’t lead to unrealistic fantasies. He emphasized that friendship cannot directly translate into a driver contract, especially for a champion driver of Verstappen’s caliber, who needs to see clear competitive prospects and a long-term plan. Wheatley revealed that Audi’s long-term goal is to compete with top teams like McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, and even Red Bull.