Audi plan to have a development driver in place by the end of this year despite still being a few seasons away from their Formula 1 entry.
The German car manufacturer is set to enter the sport in 2026, ready for when F1's new engine regulations come into force. Audi's link-up with Sauber has already been confirmed, which means the Alfa Romeo branding will disappear from the grid.
So Audi's official entry is still a few years away but, in order to have a smooth transition, it is expected the carmaker will work behind the scenes with Sauber much earlier. The signing of Andreas Seidl as chief executive, much earlier than originally planned, is an example of that partnership being put into motion.
It seems Audi also wants to get a head start on car development. Adam Baker, who is leading the company's F1 project, has revealed plans to hire a driver this year to help with that endeavour.
"It may seem that our debut is far away, but we want to have a development driver by the end of 2023," he told SoyMotor. While it is too early to say who the top candidates for that role might be, Audi do have a profile in mind as to the sort of racer they want for the role.
Baker added: "That he is a fast driver is a priority. It is very important to have someone who has experience to develop our new engine in the simulators we have in Neuburg [where Audi's factory, which will host its F1 project, is based]."
The elephant in the room is Mick Schumacher. Having been let go by Haas after just two season and with his F1 career seemingly in the balance, it has been suggested that he would be tempted by an Audi offer with the company keen to recruit a German driver if possible.
Without a race seat for 2023, Schumacher has signed with Mercedes to be a reserve to Lewis Hamilton and George Russell for this year. How long he will remain in that role will depend on what opportunities for a race seat arise for him elsewhere.
With that in mind, Baker implied that Audi might not get the chance. He said of the 23-year-old: "Although everyone associates him with us, he has chosen to go to Mercedes. It is something that we understand because his goal is to get back on the Formula 1 grid as quickly as possible."
