Kick Sauber is one of only two teams yet to announce their full driver line-up and the battle for the final seat is heating up. The rumour mill is throwing in many names to partner Nico Hulkenberg at the team, who will be leaving Haas to join Sauber after this season. As it stands, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are still in the fight.
Mattia Binotto, who was chosen to lead Audi Motorsports, has a tough decision to make whether to go with youthful exuberance or have a more experienced pair of hands to partner the 37-year-old German.
Valtteri Bottas positive on F1 future
An option Binotto could turn to is to keep the former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, whose contract expires at the end of the current season. Binotto has confirmed talks with ex-Haas driver Mick Schumacher, while rising star Franco Colepinto is rumoured to be linked.
🚨 | Sauber boss Mattia Binotto has confirmed that they are evaluating Mick Schumacher for their driver lineup:
“We are definitely evaluating him.”
“I met him and spoke to him. I have known him for a long time having been part of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
“I know his… pic.twitter.com/ZJ27IHt1Zg
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) October 12, 2024
However, the Fin is trying to stay positive. saying: “I’m always positive, I always try to stay positive, and at the same time [I’m trying to] do my job, hoping eventually things will be sorted.”
“They’re still making decisions about the future, which I imagine is experience versus youth. That’s my picture of the situation, but I hope they come to the right conclusion soon.”
The problem for the 10-time race winner is with Hulkenberg already being signed up, would the team opt for another older driver? Or would they switch to a younger driver who can learn from German?
Zhou Guanyu refuses to give up on F1 future
The other current driver, Zhou Gaunyu, has not given up hope of extending his contract beyond the end of this season.
The 25-year-old said: “We’re talking about it. Of course, everything is in the hands of Mattia, who is here this weekend making further talks with my management team, and also having a look at the team – where to improve for the future.
“For me, all I can say is I’m trying to do my job here, and hopefully that can impress him.”
🚨 | James Vowles on the chances of giving Franco Colapinto a full-time seat:
“I want to give Colapinto a seat for 2025 and ideally in Formula 1.”
“In two races, Colapinto has shown the world that he deserves a seat in Formula 1.”
“I think Albon and Sainz are still the right… pic.twitter.com/4P5tiGPYuE
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) September 16, 2024
The issue for Zhou is that he has been largely outperformed by Bottas since their time being teammates began back in 2022. The Chinese star is also looking over his shoulder at the young talent queuing up behind to get a seat for next season.
Franco Colapinto has impressed in the Williams since replacing Logan Sargeant after the Dutch Grand Prix, having solid races in the tricky conditions of Singapore and Azerbaijan.
F2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto is also rumoured to be linked with the vacant seat. However, as the Brazilian is part of the McLaren young driver program, a deal would need to be struck with the Woking outfit for this move to materialise.
If Binotto decides to play safe and keep Bottas as a safe pair of hands, or go for up-and-coming talent to learn alongside Hulkenburg, that leaves no room for Zhou to have a seat next season.
