Feature
Filling Kick Sauber's second seat is a 'top priority' for Binotto – who are they eyeing up?
F1 Correspondent & Presenter
Lawrence BarrettoShare
Sauber – who will become Audi in 2026 – are one of two teams to have a seat left on next year’s grid. New boss Mattia Binotto says filling it is “a top priority”. So, who are they eyeing up?
Sauber/Audi moved early to secure one of their drivers for next year, enticing German Nico Hulkenberg over from Haas on a long-term deal starting next year – but finding his team mate has been trickier.
They wanted Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz – however the Spaniard opted to join Alex Albon at Williams. The search stalled when it was announced Binotto would be taking over the reins from Andreas Seidl – with the former Ferrari boss only starting work on August 1.
The Italian has a huge list of things to do to revitalise a Sauber operation (currently bottom of the standings) and get them ready for Audi’s F1 debut as a works entry in 2026 – but securing the second driver is a big focus.
New Sauber/Audi boss Mattia Binotto has a huge list of things to do, with signing a second driver a huge focus
“It’s certainly a top priority because we need to decide as soon as we can, but we need as well to make the proper choice,” Binotto tells me in his first interview since taking the job. “We have no rush in a way.
“It is a priority. Why am I saying no rush? Now we have a list of drivers available and we can certainly take our time to discuss with all of them and to listen and to make the best for Sauber and Audi.
“Our journey is looking to the next years, it’s not only 2025 so when assessing the choice, we need to look at what is best knowing what we need to achieve in the future.
“Valtteri [Bottas] is doing well, and certainly I have already [had] some discussions with him. A good first impression but, having said that, there are many drivers on the list and we need as Audi to take our time to assess what is best. And hopefully soon we come to a decision.”
Sauber can opt to stick with experience and keep one of Bottas or Zhou Guanyu on for a fourth season or go for youth – and choose from the likes of Gabriel Bortoleto, who is currently second in F2, Robert Shwartzman, Zane Maloney or Theo Pourchaire.
The team are the only squad yet to score in 2024 so experience would be helpful as they look to haul themselves back into the midfield. However, this is a long-term project for Sauber/Audi and, thus, a young talent who is committed for the foreseeable could make sense.
Gabriel Bortoleto is currently second in F2
“In the end, the choice is a compromise,” adds Binotto. “Ideally you’d have a rookie who is very talented and has a lot of experience, which doesn’t work, so you need to take a decision that is a compromise to what are the requirements and necessities.
“But I don’t think it’s such a difficult decision in the end. We just need to make sure we’re fully convinced in what we are doing. You need to support your choice.
“Getting on well with the driver is very important as well because it’s about driving yes, but it’s about being together, leading and supporting a project.
ANALYSIS: Why Alpine have opted for youth in signing Doohan as their rebuild phase gears up
“It’s not only that when [a driver is] at a race track, he is just in his own monocoque and driving around the track, it’s also about what is required back at the factory and supporting the team.”
The team, so sources say, have been leaning towards experience with Bottas favourite to get the nod.
The 35-year-old has done a strong job this year, making the best of the underwhelming machinery he has at his disposal.
The team are understood to be leaning towards experience with Bottas favourite to get the nod
The Finn has had multiple conversations with Binotto, including coffees and a dinner, and would offer the team stability and an immense amount of experience (his CV includes 10 wins, 67 podiums and 20 pole positions).
However, Sauber are being thorough and exploring their options. A list of potential candidates was drawn up shortly after Binotto’s arrival.
ANALYSIS: Why Mercedes chose to take a risk and sign 18-year-old Antonelli for 2025
Conversations are believed to have been held with McLaren about Bortoleto’s availability (he’s part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme) and they are believed to have spoken to Ferrari, too, regarding Shwartzman. Sauber ran the 24-year-old in FP1 at Zandvoort as part of their requirement to run a young driver in at least two FP1s at some point during the year.
And they could look within as last year’s F2 champion Pourchaire and F2 rookie Maloney – who is currently third in the championship – are part of the Sauber Academy.
Plenty, then, to ponder for Binotto and co.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
News DRIVER OF THE DAY: Piastri gets your vote after peerless Baku win
Feature FACTS AND STATS: Red Bull lose constructors’ lead after 55 races and Bearman makes rookie history
Live BlogF1 Unlocked AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from the Azerbaijan GP as Piastri beats Leclerc while Perez and Sainz collide late on
News FIA post-race press conference – Azerbaijan
