‘Best starter in F1’ may not fit the ‘image’ Mattia Binotto wants to create at Audi

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Audi announced back in April that they had signed Nico Hulkenberg on a multi-year deal. They won’t officially enter F1 until 2026, but Hulkenberg’s contract already confirms half of their line-up.

Uncertainty persists over the identity of his teammate, however. Audi’s vision was a Hulkenberg/Carlos Sainz duo, but the Spaniard has elected to join Williams instead.

Sainz hasn’t publicly explained why he rejected the German manufacturer. But Sauber’s dismal form in 2025 – they’re the only team yet to score a point – may be a big factor.

Even with their level of resources, there are no guarantees for new F1 teams either. Audi want to be winning titles by 2031, but one journalist has suggested that Mattia Binotto’s team may never win a race.

Exciting options like Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly were also on the market this year, but they’ve signed deals elsewhere instead. Sauber could keep Valtteri Bottas, who’s outperformed Zhou Guanyu this season, but they don’t seem convinced.

That’s why Binotto is also looking at Gabriel Bortoleto, the McLaren junior who’s currently second in the F2 championship. Audi may need to agree a fee with Zak Brown for his services if that’s the route they decide to explore.

Valtteri Bottas may not be the kind of driver Audi want alongside Nico Hulkenberg

According to German publication sport.de, Bottas may not fit the image Audi are trying to convey. He’s been one of the most dependable drivers in Formula 1 for the last decade or so, winning 10 Grands Prix, taking 20 pole positions and bagging 67 podiums.

But Bottas is also 34 years old and approaching 250 race starts. In that sense, he’s almost a ‘retiree’.

And Audi want to be seen as a ‘young, up-and-coming and ambitious race team’. Hulkenberg offers the security of experience, but the idea of fielding two veterans may not appeal.

Bottas would justifiably feel hard done by if he lost his seat on such grounds. With Sainz confirmed at Williams, Jack Doohan set to sign for Alpine and a return to Mercedes all but off the table, this could mark the end of his career.

Sky Sports F1 pundit calls Valtteri Bottas the best starter in F1

Bottas never managed to consistently threaten Lewis Hamilton during his time at Mercedes, but he still left Brackley in 2021 with a considerably enhanced reputation. He’d arguably carried out the number two driver role to perfection.

Despite that, Bottas considered quitting F1 in 2018 because he was ‘fed up’ with the sport. While he hasn’t won a championship, the Finn could be pleased with his career if he has to walk away at the end of the year.

His skillset should lend itself to success in other series should he wish. For instance, Naomi Schiff has called Bottas the best starter on the grid, which speaks to his reflexes.

Teammate Zhou Guanyu brings £27m in sponsorship money, but that’s unlikely to hold sway at a company the size of Audi. He trails Bottas 10-4 in qualifying this season, and 8-4 in the races.