Sauber to make call on second driver in ‘matter of weeks’ as team assesses multiple options

Kick Sauber are still on a mission to settle on their second driver for the 2025 season and beyond, with their Team Representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi revealing that a decision will be made in the near future.

For the last three seasons, Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas have competed for the Swiss team, although neither have signed a contract extension for next year – with at least one set to be replaced by current Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg.

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The team have failed to reach the points in 2024, the only outfit on the grid yet to do so, but there is optimism for the future as they focus on 2026 when they will become the Audi works squad.

With former Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto, Red Bull Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley, and Hulkenberg all on board for the upcoming Audi project, the question still remains as to who will partner the German driver.

Without a formal Team Principal this season, Alunni Bravi has shouldered the recent questions about their line-up, especially as the sport approaches the final seven events of the season.

He explained ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that the driver decision is down to Binotto, who took on his role as Chief Operating and Chief Technical Officer at the beginning of August.

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“We have said already in Monza that he's taking charge of all the dossiers, and the drivers is of course one of the most important ones,” Alunni Bravi said in a press conference in Baku. “We are evaluating all the options to see which is the best balance between a short-term experience and medium, long-term, maybe young talent.

“There are potential candidates on both sides. Valtteri is a strong driver for our team. We know him very well. He has been with the team already for three years, and of course he's one on top of our list.

“But there are other opportunities. We are just looking at all the pros and cons, and Mattia will take a decision based not only on 2025, but also the medium/long-term strategy for the Audi F1 project.”

With newly revised regulations being introduced in 2026, Audi will hope to take advantage of the major changes with a strong line-up. According to reports, candidates include their current drivers, F2’s Gabriel Bortoleto, and Sauber reserve Theo Pourchaire.

RB are the only other team on the grid with an empty seat for next season, but Alunni Bravi explained that Binotto is under little pressure to make a decision as soon as possible.

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“It's not about the deadline because, of course, we are not opportunistic,” he said. “Now that there is only one seat available, we want to take time.

“It's more to assess everything, every aspect, and to take a right decision. I think there is no rush, but we want to tick this box also soon. So, I think it will be a matter of the next weeks.”