With Sauber failing to produce a competitive machine for Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, the main developments at the team concern their driver line-up. Despite months of deliberation, Sauber are undecided on who will partner Nico Hulkenberg in 2025. As it stands, Bottas finds himself in a very precarious position.
Bottas waits for Mattia Binotto to determine Sauber/Audi’s best option
At the beginning of the year, Bottas was confident about his prospects for 2025. This conviction was understandable, given he was linked to several teams across the field – including Williams.
Unfortunately for the Finn, these options slowly disappeared. Only Sauber, his current team, can offer him a lifeline to stay on the grid.
However, there are no guarantees they will do so. In various media appearances, Mattia Binotto has made clear that nothing is set in stone for next season.
The former Ferrari team principal (now overseeing Sauber’s transition to Audi) has identified several candidates. Alongside Valtteri Bottas, two emerging talents in the form of Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto are firmly on the radar.
Sauber must chose between youth and experience
In both cases, Bottas’ main threats have better machinery at their disposal to sway Sauber’s decision.
Colapinto scored points in just his second F1 race weekend, showing tremendous pace at the challenging Baku circuit. He was also within touching distance in Monza and Singapore, proving competitive on both occasions.
Thanks to upgrades introduced by Williams in Zandvoort, the FW46 is regularly in the hunt for points. This is positive for Colapinto, but bad news for Bottas, who can do little to secure notable performances in F1’s worst car.
Williams team principal James Vowles is working hard to secure Colapinto a place on next year’s grid.
Meanwhile, McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto is also in the race for a Sauber seat. As Formula 2’s current Championship leader, the Brazilian will have more opportunities in the coming weeks to make an impression on Mattia Binotto.
Binotto has already spoken in glowing terms of Bortoleto and his potential. Once again, Valtteri Bottas – who is a known quantity – can only watch as young talent threatens his position.
Of course, this is not to suggest Bottas is out of the race. Some outlets even suggest he is the favourite to secure the final spot on the 2025 grid.
However, it is possible that Sauber could spend another few weeks deliberating their decision. With Audi’s F1 debut only two years away, it is possible that signing a young driver alongside the experienced Nico Hulkenberg is deemed the most logical next step.
There can denying that the 10-time winner’s F1 career is hanging on by a thread.
