Two-time DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom was never set to leave Audi, according to its motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich.
Ekstrom, who finished sixth in this year's DTM with the Abt team, had been linked to moves to both DTM newcomer BMW and Mercedes, but the Swede was confirmed as part of Audi's line-up for 2013 on Wednesday. Fellow Abt driver Timo Scheider, who has also won two DTM titles for Audi, was also confirmed after speculation that he could leave.
Ullrich said: "Mathias and Timo will be with us next year. There has been a lot of speculation about that, but they both had long-term contracts, so the door was never open for discussion."
Spaniard Miguel Molina, who raced for the Phoenix squad this season, has parted company with Audi.
Ullrich said: "Miguel will leave the team. I am sure there will be other opportunities for him to make a career in motorsport and we give him whatever help we can."
Rachel Frey will also not race in the DTM but is expected to be given a program racing an Audi R8 LMS ultra GT3 car. One place in Audi's eight-car DTM lineup, which has been bolstered for 2013 by the arrival of Jamie Green, is still up for grabs.
Sports car driver James Rossiter and Formula Renault 3.5 driver Nico Muller are understood to be in the frame after testing for Audi earlier this winter.