Audi F1 want audacious Max Verstappen driver transfer

Wheatley talks about Verstappen — Photo: © IMAGO

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Audi want audacious Max Verstappen driver transfer

Audi will takeover Sauber in 2026

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Saturday 15 November 2025 20:27

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Sauber, soon to be Audi, F1 team principal Jonathan Wheatley has named Max Verstappen as their target.

If Max Verstappen were a contestant on Take Me Out all the team principals would leave their lights on, and it would really be the Dutchman’s choice which one he takes to the Isle of Fernando’s - apologies already to any non-UK readers.

Basically, the above was one big convoluted metaphor to suggest that every F1 team wants to hire Verstappen. And you can see why.

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Not only is the 28-year-old a four-time world champion, but has proven that regardless of whether he is in a championship winning car or not, he can still win races.

If one man knows just how good Max Verstappen is, it’s his former colleague and Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, who is now in the role of Sauber team principal.

Wheatley targets Verstappen

Jonathan Wheatley joined Red Bull in 2006, the same time as Adrian Newey and a year after Christian Horner, becoming one of the many figures instrumental in making the team as successful as it is today.

The Brit was installed at the team all throughout Verstappen’s title winning years, and in a recent interview with Dutch publication De Telegraaf revealed his interest in signing the champion.

“Yes, I want Max Verstappen to drive our car, what kind of team principal would I be if I didn't want that?" Wheatley said.

“I'm in the fortunate position of having been friends with Max for a long time, but also with his father, Jos, and manager, Raymond.

“And such a friendship develops because you're always honest and you never betray the trust you've built.

“But I don't think that's enough right now to directly link Verstappen to a Formula 1 seat at Audi.”

Of course, Audi are a long way off becoming a championship winning team, with Wheatley not expecting them to become a race winning outfit as soon as next season.

Despite all Verstappen has achieved in F1, he remains only 28-years-old with plenty of longevity left in the sport; and Audi are intent on making a name for themselves in the sport.

Audi are deeply committed to F1 and will produce their own chassis and power unit from 2026, operating from three bases in Hinwil (where their team and chassis operations will be located), Neuburg (their power unit base) and Bicester in the UK.

Anyway, in five years time, who knows which team will sit atop the championship order or contain the promise to lure Verstappen to their side?

F1 Max Verstappen Audi Jonathan Wheatley