How long Sauber want to sign ‘safe’ Valtteri Bottas for before Audi F1 takeover

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Sauber faces the difficult task of finding a driver for the 2025 season and whether it wants to side with experience or youth.

The debuts of Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman in Formula 1 this season have prompted more teams to look towards rookies in F2, after they showed just how capable they are with simulator training and their Testing of Previous Cars programmes.

Ahead of Sauber’s transition to Audi in 2026, there is speculation over who they will pair with Nico Hulkenberg having originally wanted Carlos Sainz.

Several drivers have been linked with the only vacant seat of the season, with Mick Schumacher recently re-emerging as a potential option after Mattia Binotto confirmed talks.

McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto is a contender for the seat although the team is unwilling to have him leave their programme permanently, while Williams’ James Vowles has said he is open to having Colapinto join them on loan.

But as the season draws to a close, it is looking more likely that Valtteri Bottas will retain his seat purely for continuity according to journalist Nate Saunders on the Unlapped podcast.

Valtteri Bottas is the ‘short-term’ option for Sauber

Audi is likely looking at all the available options for the 2026 season, which is why Bottas is rumoured to be on a one-year contract for 2025.

Although the Finn is a proven winner, his last two seasons with Sauber have been lacklustre with zero points scored so far in 2024. But he does offer Sauber a reliable option while they go through a transitional phase according to Saunders.

“If you’re Audi, you want one of the young guys coming in. Look at Piastri coming in, that’s a McLaren story. He started with Alpine, but McLaren gave him that chance,” said Saunders.

“So I think there is a nice story to be told there, but I get the feeling Bottas will be the safe short-term option, and then we’ll see beyond that.”

Valtteri Bottas retaining his F1 seat might not be a ‘problem’

Bottas is known for being laid back when it comes to dealing with his future in F1, having yet to make any progress on his future.

It is expected that Sauber will either go for him or a rookie, although Binotto has made it clear in the past that they value experience over youth more.

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

The problem for Bottas is that this deal has not happened yet, so the team is clearly thinking that it could be better off with a rookie with the view of Audi’s takeover in 2026.

He will have to prove he is ready to take on the challenge in the final six races of the season, with Bottas potentially needing to score points in a car that he has said is very difficult to drive.