Last Updated on September 17 2024, 9:33 pm
Bottas mulls F1 exit as Zhou eyeing reserve role – As the 2025 Formula One season approaches, uncertainty surrounds the futures of Sauber drivers Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou. Both drivers face significant challenges in retaining their positions within the Sauber team as they vie for the remaining seat next season.
While the experienced Bottas is exploring potential opportunities outside the elite series, Zhou seems resigned to a supporting role within Formula One. Valtteri Bottas, the Finnish driver with an impressive F1 pedigree, finds himself in a precarious position. His future with Sauber, the team expected to rebrand as Audi in 2026, is under threat as the team evaluates its options for the second cockpit alongside Nico Hulkenberg for the 2025 season.
While Bottas remains a strong contender for the seat, but there is no guarantee that he will be retained and the uncertainty has led him to explore alternative career paths. Indeed it appears he himself is admitting to Formula 1 retirement and a move to another racing series according to sources within the paddock.
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Sauber’s fortunes have been far from ideal as the Formula One season has progressed, but all eyes remain on the Swiss outfit ahead of its transformation into an Audi works team in 2026. The team’s recent performance in Baku showed some improvement, with Zhou Guanyu finishing on the lead lap for the first time since the Belgian Grand Prix, although no points were scored.
The focus now shifts to Sauber’s driver line-up for 2025, as they look to secure a teammate for Nico Hulkenberg, who was signed from Haas at the start of the season.
With Sauber’s first season as a fully-fledged Audi team on the horizon, the choice of drivers for the next few years is crucial. Reports suggest that Sauber are close to making a decision, with Valtteri Bottas likely to retain his seat.
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Zhou shows improvement, but Sauber still struggles
Zhou Guanyu’s performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix marked a small step forward for Sauber. Although the Chinese driver failed to score points, he was closer to his rivals than in previous races. Zhou’s efforts in qualifying also demonstrated his team-first approach, as he tried to help team-mate Valtteri Bottas despite knowing he would receive a grid penalty.
However, Sauber’s struggles have been evident throughout the season. The team have yet to score a point and their lack of competitiveness has drawn criticism. Former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve went as far as to accuse Sauber of “not even trying” this season.
Despite these challenges, there is a great deal of anticipation surrounding Sauber as they prepare for their upcoming transition to Audi. The team has one seat locked up with Hülkenberg and the second cockpit is expected to be filled soon, with Bottas leading the race to retain his place.
Bottas ‘very close’ to securing seat for 2025
Valtteri Bottas, a 10-time race winner and experienced Formula One driver, appears to be close to securing his place in Sauber’s 2025 line-up. Bottas’ future with Sauber has been the subject of much speculation, with rumours suggesting that the Finn is keen to remain with the team as it transitions to Audi.
However, his future with the team may depend on the length and terms of the contract he is offered.
Speaking on *The Race Podcast*, F1 journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm revealed that there were rumours in the paddock during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that a deal with Bottas could be imminent.
“I got a couple of hints this weekend that Valtteri Bottas could be very close to an extension for next season,” said Mitchell-Malm.
While Bottas faces competition from younger drivers such as McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto and rising talent Franco Colapinto, his experience could make him the preferred choice for Sauber. Bottas’ extensive knowledge of Formula One could prove invaluable to the team as they navigate the significant technical and operational changes ahead.
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Competition from young drivers: Colapinto in the frame
Although Bottas appears to be on the verge of extending his contract with Sauber, the team have not completely ruled out other candidates. Franco Colapinto, a promising young driver, has emerged as a possible alternative. Colapinto impressed during his performance in Baku, which could influence Sauber’s decision.
Mitchell-Malm noted that Colapinto has positioned himself as a serious contender for a future seat in Formula One. “I think Sauber might have to think very seriously about Colapinto because he’s put himself at the front of the queue,” he remarked. However, Colapinto’s late emergence in the 2025 driver market may not provide Sauber with enough evidence to choose him over Bottas.
Colapinto’s situation is further complicated by the fact that he doesn’t have a confirmed seat with another team for 2025, and with Williams securing Carlos Sainz, the options for young drivers are limited. This could put Sauber in the position of having to choose between the experience of Bottas or the potential of a young talent like Colapinto.
Guenther Steiner backs Bottas for 2025
Amid speculation over Sauber’s driver line-up, Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has voiced his support for Valtteri Bottas. Steiner believes that Bottas is the right choice for Sauber in 2025, especially as the team prepares to rebrand as Audi.
“He’s the right fit for the team,” said Steiner, despite Bottas’ disappointing performance so far this season, where he currently sits below rookie Logan Sargeant in the Drivers’ Championship.
Bottas’ rivals for the seat, including Colapinto and Bortoleto, offer exciting potential, but Sauber may prefer the stability and experience that Bottas brings. His knowledge of Formula One and ability to steer a team through periods of change could be crucial as Sauber embark on one of the biggest transformations in the sport’s history.
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While Bottas remains the frontrunner for the seat, the growing trend of teams opting for young drivers could yet influence Sauber’s decision. At least three teams are expected to field rookie drivers next season, and young talents such as Colapinto and Oliver Bearman showed their potential in Baku, strengthening the case for giving rising stars a chance.
Mattia Binotto, who has been appointed to lead Audi’s F1 project, faces a tough decision. While Bottas offers experience and reliability, the lure of developing a young driver ahead of the team’s transformation into Audi could sway his thinking.
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The battle for the Sauber seat: Bottas vs. Bortoleto
Veteran Formula One journalist Ted Kravitz, a trusted voice in the paddock, provided insight into Bottas’ situation during the weekend of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. According to Kravitz, the Finn is eyeing a move to the United States to compete in the IndyCar series should Sauber decide against retaining Bottas.
“Bottas wants to race in the IndyCar series,” Kravitz revealed, hinting at the possibility of Bottas following in the footsteps of other former F1 drivers who have made the transition to American open-wheel racing.
Competition for the coveted Sauber seat is fierce, with Bottas facing stiff competition from Gabriel Bortoleto, a promising young driver who has caught the eye of team management. Kravitz suggests that the Sauber/Audi team is narrowing its choice down to a head-to-head battle between Bottas and Bortoleto.
“He is fighting Bottas for the seat next year,” said Kravitz, referring to Bortoleto. The final decision, according to Kravitz, will rest with Sauber’s management, in particular Mattia Binotto, the experienced former Ferrari team principal who has now taken the reins at Sauber/Audi. Negotiations between the team and the drivers are expected to be crucial in determining who will secure the seat.
While Bottas’ extensive experience and proven track record in F1 could make him a valuable asset to the team during the transition to Audi, the prospect of nurturing fresh talent like Bortoleto may appeal to Sauber’s long-term ambitions.
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Zhou’s F1 hopes fading
While Bottas battles for his F1 future, Guanyu Zhou is facing an even harsher reality. The Chinese driver, who has enjoyed a steady but unspectacular tenure in F1, seems to have accepted that he will not be in the running for the second Sauber seat. Despite his efforts, Zhou’s chances of retaining a full-time seat appear slim, with Kravitz suggesting that Zhou is already laying the groundwork for an alternative path in the sport.
“It looks like Zhou is looking for a future as a reserve driver with another team,” said Kravitz, suggesting that Zhou’s focus has shifted from racing to securing a support role within Formula One. This approach would allow Zhou to remain in the sport, continue to gain experience and potentially wait for future opportunities, rather than seeking a racing career in another motorsport series like Bottas.
Zhou’s preference for a reserve role reflects his commitment to remaining in the Formula One ecosystem, where being in the right place at the right time can often lead to a return to a full-time seat.
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RacingBulls’ second seat nears resolution
While the driver market remains uncertain for Sauber, another high-profile team, RacingBulls – Red Bull’s sister team – also has an open seat for 2025. There has been much speculation surrounding the second seat at RacingBulls, with Liam Lawson emerging as the frontrunner to fill the role. According to reports, Lawson is set to replace Daniel Ricciardo, possibly as early as this season.
Lawson, who has impressed as a reserve and substitute driver for the Racing Bulls, is being tipped for a promotion to a full-time seat. His performances are said to have caught the eye of team management and his promotion would be in line with Red Bull’s track record of developing and promoting young talent through its ranks.
Rumours of Lawson’s potential arrival surfaced earlier this week, reigniting speculation that Daniel Ricciardo’s return to F1 could be short-lived, especially if Lawson continues to impress in his on-track appearances.
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A defining moment for Bottas and Zhou
As the 2025 Formula One season approaches, the futures of Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou remain uncertain. While Bottas remains hopeful of securing the second Sauber seat, his potential move to IndyCar reflects the precarious nature of his F1 career. Zhou, on the other hand, seems to have come to terms with his diminished prospects, opting to position himself for a reserve role in order to remain in the sport.
The battle for the Sauber seat is likely to come down to experience versus youth, with Bottas and Bortoleto fighting for their place on the grid. Meanwhile, the expected arrival of Liam Lawson at RacingBulls hints at the ongoing reshuffle of F1’s driver line-up. Whatever the outcome, the 2025 season promises to bring significant changes, not just for Sauber, but across the Formula One grid as teams finalise their rosters and look to the future.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
