Audi boss watching ‘brilliant’ driver’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix performance amid 2025 seat decision

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When a permanent Formula 1 race seat is on the line, every performance counts with team principals keeping a close eye on all of their potential options before making a final call.

Eighteen out of the 20 seats for 2025 are now confirmed with only Sauber and RB yet to decide their full driver line-ups.

RB may have made their decision with Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson in a straight shootout to be Yuki Tsunoda’s teammate next year.

Sauber are in a more difficult position as they’re currently rooted to the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship without a point.

The prospect of becoming the Audi works team wasn’t enough to convince the likes of Carlos Sainz or Esteban Ocon to join the team.

However, with no other options available, drivers are now more than willing to be Nico Hulkenberg’s teammate in 2025 just to stay on the grid.

Journalist Adam Cooper posted on X after qualifying and suggested that new Audi boss Mattia Binotto would have been watching one driver particularly closely during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Sauber and Audi F1 chief Mattia Binotto

Current Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas appears to be the favourite to keep his seat although even with the help of teammate Zhou Guanyu, he still couldn’t find a way out of Q1.

Gabriel Bortoleto’s fantastic F2 campaign has put him in the frame for an immediate promotion to Formula 1.

However, Cooper believes that Franco Colapinto’s performances for Williams would have caught Binotto’s eye.

The Argentinian starts on the fourth row of the grid in just his second race and is aiming to be the first driver from his country to score a point on Sunday since 1982.

Mattia Binotto ‘no doubt watching’ Franco Colapinto amid 2025 Sauber seat decision

Colapinto was brought into the Williams team ahead of the last race at Monza after team principal James Vowles decided to replace Logan Sargeant.

Sargeant’s performances didn’t match the potential of the car and he cost the team a lot of money after several huge crashes throughout the campaign.

Colapinto has hit the ground running and aside from a mistake in his first qualifying session in Italy and a crash during practice in Baku, he’s done exceptionally well.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Williams driver Franco Colapinto with praise to stats

Posting after qualifying on social media, Cooper said: “What a brilliant job by @FranColapinto today, and tomorrow he lines up right behind three champs in VER, HAM and ALO.

“Taking him looks like a genius move by James Vowles. There’s no free seat at @WilliamsRacing, but Mattia Binotto and Audi are no doubt watching with interest…”

Damon Hill impressed by Williams star Franco Colapinto during Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying

Colapinto had to nail his lap in Q2 to make sure he reached the final session of qualifying with fellow youngster Oliver Bearman looking extremely quick in his Haas.

A mistake by the Williams pit crew cost Alex Albon a chance to set a final time in Q3 and Colapinto has achieved a feat Sargeant never did in outqualifying the Thai driver for a Grand Prix, although the American did get the better of his teammate twice during Sprint Race qualifying this year.

Damon Hill was very impressed with Colapinto’s qualifying performance and all eyes are on whether he can hold position to score his first points in Formula 1.

That would certainly do his hopes of staying on the grid with Sauber no harm whatsoever.

Colapinto already knows there isn’t a seat for him at Wiliams with Carlos Sainz confirmed as Albon’s teammate for 2025.