Audi-owned Sauber will try to put their F1 driver activities aside in Miami.
Team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi states that Audi-owned Sauber will not be distracted by off-track activities. The Hinwil-based outfit has recently confirmed the finalisation of a multi-year contract with Nico Hulkenberg. The 36-year-old completes another piece of the F1 ‘silly season’ puzzle. However, Audi has yet to announce who will drive alongside him next season. What happens next to Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu is unknown.
One down, one to go
Months of reports were finally validated when Hulkenberg’s arrival at Sauber was announced last week. The German driver has been very impressive in his stint with Haas since returning to F1, comfortably establishing himself as their best driver. As someone with speed and consistency, the Le Mans winner is understandably someone the constructor wants to build around for the next few seasons.
The man who drove at Sauber in 2013 meets all of Audi’s requirements. He is capable of providing accurate feedback, strong results and avoiding errors that others might commit.
What remains unsolved is whether Bottas, Zhou or someone else (such as Sainz or Ocon) will become Audi’s second signing for 2025. On paper, the two drivers currently driving the C44 are under consideration. Continuity is important in Formula 1, and it cannot be said that either driver is majorly flawed.
Valtteri Bottas is still more than capable of holding his own in Formula 1. In fact, only unforced errors from Sauber (pit-stop issues in Australia and a mechanical failure in China) have prevented him from scoring points in 2024. It was only two years ago that Bottas was regularly a top-1o finisher for Sauber, capitalising on his competitive machinery.
On the opposite side of the garage, Zhou Guanyu is still a few steps behind his more experienced teammate. However, much like his teammate, judging the 24-year-old in the team’s current machinery is difficult. In his time with Sauber, Zhou can be credited with solid performances and a positive contributor at Hinwil.
Sauber downplay F1 news speculation
Of course, there is a realistic scenario where both drivers are replaced. Aware of the inevitable speculation surrounding this, team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi emphasises the importance of not letting anything “distract” personnel.
“We keep working, we keep fighting. Everyone is pushing in the same direction, both at home and trackside,” he said in Sauber’s Miami GP preview.
“And we really want to break our duck and reap the rewards of our work.
“Most importantly, we won’t let anything distract us from our immediate focus, which is to extract as much performance as possible from the car and get results this season.”
Undoubtedly, this weekend in Miami will be awkward for the Sauber duo. Carlos Sainz is already established as a desirable option for Audi. If the team had things their way, he would already have signed on the dotted line.
Should patience for the Spaniard run out, there are plenty of alternatives to pursue.
In this environment, it will be difficult – though not beyond the professional capacity of Bottas and Zhou – to navigate the media obligations at round six of the season.
