Guenther Steiner names the driver he thinks is getting ‘closer and closer’ to securing 2025 Sauber seat

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The 2024 Formula 1 season has produced one of the most active driver markets in the history of the sport.

Seven driver changes have already been confirmed and there are still two more seats left to fill before the start of next season.

The highest profile moves both involve Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton departing to join Ferrari and the incredibly highly-rated 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli being promoted in his place.

Alpine, Haas and Williams will also have new line-ups while RB and Sauber are yet to announce their second drivers.

Red Bull will determine who out of their roster of drivers deserves the seat next to Yuki Tsunoda while also deciding what to do with Sergio Perez.

Sauber is an entirely different prospect though as they head into their final season on the grid in 2025 before becoming the Audi works team.

Nico Hulkenberg is already signed up and speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, his former team principal Guenther Steiner was discussing who could end up alongside him.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber from team principal to Audi future

Mattia Binotto is running out of options, but Steiner thinks that the Swiss outfit are seriously considering sticking with Valtteri Bottas.

The Finn is a safe pair of hands and has plenty of winning experience from his time at Mercedes.

However, there are a couple of young drivers who might fancy their chances of adding another rookie to the grid in 2025.

Guenther Steiner ‘closer and closer’ to thinking Valtteri Bottas will stay at Sauber

Steiner was asked if we’re any closer to knowing who will be joining Sauber next year and he replied: “No, I’m getting closer and closer to thinking it’s Bottas.

“But I couldn’t say it with confidence, but I’m getting closer and closer to thinking it’s Bottas because it makes sense for the team.

“They’re obviously not in a good spot. They are half a second slower than the second-slowest car.

“So, you know, at least if you put Bottas in, he knows the team, everybody knows him.

“He won F1 races, which is good to have as well, somebody who won F1 races in a works team like Audi.

READ MORE: Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas’ life outside F1 from girlfriend to wine and gin

“He has got experience, he just needs motivation, in my opinion, and the motivation will come from Nico.

“If Nico is standing up behind the wheel, as he normally does, that will motivate the other guy to perform as well.

“But in the moment, that motivation is a little bit gone. His teammate is not challenging him.”

Who is Valtteri Bottas competing with for Sauber’s 2025 race seat?

Bottas is said to be the favourite to stay at Sauber but Binotto was coy when asked if he had decided who would be running alongside Hulkenberg in Monza.

Binotto was spotted in conversation with McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto after he pulled off an incredible last-to-first win in the Formula 2 Feature Race.

Theo Pourchaire and Bortoleto have both been discussed as options by Binotto and from there, it comes down to youth versus experience.

Bottas appeared to be every team’s second choice during the most chaotic period of the driver’s market.

As he saw his options elsewhere disappear, he’s had to stay where he is at the back of the grid although Andreas Seidl’s exit has helped his chances.

Sauber won’t want to wait too long to finalise their line-up even if they don’t face any competition from the rest of the grid.