Audi’s Driver Development Programme has had many different names over the years. The Sauber Junior Team was founded in 2018 as a partnership between Sauber Motorsport and Charouz Racing System. After the 2019 season, Charouz and Sauber parted ways and the Sauber Academy was formed.

Current drivers

Freddie Slater joined the Audi Driver Development Programme in January 2026, becoming the first driver to do so. In 2026, Slater raced in the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy where he finished second in the standings. He is also competing full-time in Formula 3 with Trident, where has one podium and is third in the standings after one round. Previously, Slater has won the 2022 Ginetta Junior Winter Series Championship, 2023 Ginetta Junior Championship, 2024 F4 UAE and Italian F4 Championships and the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship.

Emma Felbermayr also joined Audi in 2026 and will be racing in F1 Academy with Rodin Motorsport. The Austrian driver will be competing in her second year in F1 Academy as well as her second year in car racing. She took one F1 Academy win in 2025.

Former drivers (including Sauber Junior Team and Sauber Academy)

Juan Manuel Correa was a member of the Sauber Junior Team in 2019 and a member of the Sauber Academy from 2021 until 2022. During his time with the academy, Correa raced in F3 (2021-2022) and F2 (2019, 2022). In 2026, the American driver is racing in Indy NXT where he has had one top-10 finish after one race.

Callum Ilott is a British racing driver who was a member of the Sauber Junior Team in 2019. During his time with the Junior Team, Ilott raced in Formula Two. In 2026, the Briton will race in IMSA in the GTD category.

Arthur Leclerc was a member of the Sauber Academy in 2019 during this time, he raced in ADAC Formula 4. In 2026, Leclerc will serve as Ferrari’s Development Driver, a role he has has since 2024. The Monégasque driver will also race in GT World Challenge Europe with AF Corse.

Théo Pourchaire was a member of the Sauber Junior Team in 2019 and a member of the Sauber Academy from 2020 until 2024. With Sauber, Pourchaire won the 2019 ADAC Formula 4 championship and the 2023 Formula Two championship. He also raced in F3 (2020), F2 (2020-2022), Super Formula (2024) and IndyCar (2024). In 2026, the French driver will race in the World Endurance Championship with Peugeot and serve as Mercedes F1’s Development Driver.

Zane Maloney was a member of the Sauber Academy in 2024 when he competed in Formula Two. Previously, Maloney won the 2019 British F4 championship. In 2026, Maloney is racing in Formula E with Lola Yamaha ABT, he has a best finish of 10th which he claimed at the São Paulo E-Prix.

Carrie Schreiner was a member of the Sauber Academy in 2024. During her time with the team, she raced in F4 UAE, Formula Winter Series, F1 Academy, British F4 and Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS). In 2026, the German driver will be racing in both GT Winter Series and GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup.

Read about the rest of the Driver Academies here.