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REPORT: Volkswagen Group Next in Line to Approach Sauber Amidst Failed Andretti F1 Talks

Published 11/02/2021, 5:51 AM EDT

It must have been an intense couple of months for the Rausing family, with their legendary F1 team, Sauber, dancing on the brink of collapse due to a possible financial crisis. It was Andretti on the other side of the table, awaiting an offer from the Swiss.

Eventually, the offer did arrive, but the American outfit, currently competing in Indy and Formula-E, could not come close to matching Sauber’s demands. Of course, Michael Andretti’s desperation to place his own car on the F1 grid forced him not to close down the deal without putting up a fight.

However, in the end, the value was too high for the American to pursue and had to give up on his F1 dream, at least for now. Interestingly, Sauber, the 4th oldest F1 team, are interested in selling Alfa Romeo Racing to potential 2026 entrants.

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They’re the German giants, Volkswagen group. According to Blick, Sauber’s entire focus has shifted to Volkswagen, who could be the perfect candidate in taking over the historic racing team.

Audi or Porsche: When will the purchase of Sauber F1 take place?

Unlike Andretti, it looks like Audi or Porsche might plan on taking control of the team by 2025 assuming they buy into Sauber prior. This could be highly threatening for the current F1 teams.

Not only will the German outfit embrace the full use of Sauber’s structure and the highly praised wind tunnel, but also enjoy a bigger budget cap amidst the rise of the new era.

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With respect to drivers, the Volkswagen group wouldn’t mind much either. They already have the German racing legend’s son, Mick Schumacher, at Haas. 3 more years of bearing the struggles of Haas, and Mick might find himself racing for his home team.

But, the question is, can he hold on until 2024, considering Haas have been going downhill since the late 2010s? And even if they do, there is also the uncertainty whether Mick would leave behind Ferrari amidst his father’s emotional history with the Maranello outfit.

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Well, the stage is set for the German giants amidst their pursuit of F1 glory. Hence, will they knock on the doors of the Rausing family in the coming days?

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Written by:

Rohit Kumar is an F1 author at EssentiallySports. He has been an ardent follower of the racing series since 2007, with his love for the sport coinciding with his love for Kimi Raikkonen. He is also an ardent follower of Sebastian Vettel and Aston Martin Racing.

REPORT: Volkswagen Group Next in Line to Approach Sauber Amidst Failed Andretti F1 Talks

Audi or Porsche: When will the purchase of Sauber F1 take place?

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