‘Incomprehensible’ driver is in ‘pole position’ to secure second Sauber / Audi F1 seat

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Audi’s new head of Formula 1 Mattia Binotto has to come up with a solution for why Sauber have sunk to the back of the grid.

Formally called Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, the team have been at the wrong end of the paddock under several of their most recent guises.

Sauber haven’t finished in the top five of the Constructors’ Championship since 2008 when Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica were with the team.

A whole host of drivers have been and gone since then and ahead of Sauber’s final season before Audi make their Formula 1 debut, the team have yet to confirm their final line-up.

Nico Hulkenberg committed to Sauber months ago and is having one of the best seasons of his F1 career.

He’ll be hoping things improve at the Swiss team quickly as they’re miles behind Haas this year and 14 race weekends in still looking for their first championship point.

A report from journalist Roger Benoit on Blick.ch has shared more details on who could join the German next year.

There are only a handful of current drivers still looking for a race seat next season.

Valtteri Bottas is the most decorated of those drivers having achieved 10 race wins and 67 podiums.

Benoit believes that the Finn is still in pole position to be retained but finds the idea of him staying ‘incomprehensible’.

After former Audi F1 boss Andreas Seidl tried to get rid of Bottas, he may now continue to outlast the German beyond this season.

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

Valtteri Bottas in ‘pole position’ to keep his Sauber seat for 2025

Reflecting on Audi’s search for a driver, Benoit said: “The theatre surrounding the 2nd Audi driver continues. Mick Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel are in the news every day, especially in Germany.

“With the sentence ‘Vettel is interested in a comeback’, bull motorsport boss Marko poured oil on the fire – and regrets it: ‘I didn’t want to do that to Seb!’

“Whatsmore, the new top guru from Hinwil, Binotto, was partly responsible for Vettel being sacked by Ferrari at the end of 2020.

“And even Audi won’t let two Germans go head-to-head in 2025 – so Schumi is also out as the second Hülkenberg partner. Please stop these annoying rumours!

“Bottas (soon to be 35), who finished last in the world championship, is apparently in pole position. Incomprehensible for many fans!”

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

Sebastian Vettel has offered his services to Audi for next season

Bottas will know that he faces competition for his seat ahead of 2025 and Sauber haven’t given him much to get excited about this year.

He’s currently last in the Drivers’ Championship but that’s very much been out of his control with the car so far off the pace of the rest of the field.

There are plenty of other drivers who will be challenging Bottas for his seat at Sauber.

One of those is Sebastian Vettel who has offered his services to Audi.

He’s not raced in any series since he retired from Formula 1 in 2022, and Benoit doesn’t believe Audi want two German drivers when they arrive on the grid.

However, he’s a huge name in the sport and if his offer is serious and he gets some test runs under his belt, he might be a difficult name to turn down.