Sauber, who will evolve into Audi in 2026, have warned that they will be “a player” in t🔯he F1 driver mar☂ket.

The arrival🎀 of the German manufacturing powerhouse Audi into Formula 1 means that they are already preparing the team for its evolution.

That includes the potential♋ arrival of coveted drivers for Sauber next ꧒year.

Carlos Sainz is the key name who iไs being linked with the project.

Red Bu🍸ll’s Helmut Marko has claimed they cannot “match or beat” a big-money offer from Audi to Sainz.

"There are 14 drivers without a contract fixed for next year. We are speaking with different drivers," said Sauber te🔯am representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi.

"It is not the time for us to make any decision. It's time to provide our drivers with a p💟erforming car.

"But we are happy that it seems that we can play a ꦚrole - a different role - in the driver market for the future.

“Thanks to the Audi announcement, and the investments that will be done in ordꦜer to improve our team.

"Finally we are attractive. And we are not the spectators. We ღare a player in the market."

Guanyu Zhou and Valtteri Bottas curr🐽ently make up Sauber’s driver duo but both of their contracts expire this year, and both are at-risk of losing their drives.

Ferrari’s Sainz and Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg have been heavily linked with movi🔥ng to Sauber to then spearhead Audi’s entry from 2026.

Alunni Bravi refused 𝕴to confirm any targets, but said: "It's not appropriate💙 to discuss or to disclose what could be the discussion in place.

"No one really knows what ot👍her teams are offering to the drivers or discussing with the♚ drivers.

“We don't want to be part of a g🎐ame that is done 🍒by others.

"Every driver is speaking with a lot of teams to understand the ✱situation.

“To understand if there could be a common vision on the project. Especially for🎃 a team like us, that is in full transformation process ahead of 2026🐭.

"But we are foꦡcused on our drivers, and we respect our drivers.”