Juan Pablo Montoya names who ‘deserves’ Sauber seat over Franco Colapinto as he responds to social media criticism

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Sauber have floundered in 2024 and are the only one of the 10 teams in Formula 1 yet to score a point this season.

The Swiss team have been rooted to the foot of the timesheets for much of the season as Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu have struggled with a difficult car.

Sauber will become the Audi team in the 2026 season, and the German manufacturer may boost the team up the field, although they have shown little signs of improvement.

The team are also still undecided about their driver line-up for 2025, having yet announced who will be the teammate of Nico Hulkenberg when the German joins from Haas.

Finnish driver Bottas may be an option to stay at Sauber, although former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya feels two younger drivers also deserve the seat.

The Colombian was criticised on social media for his recent comments about Franco Colapinto, and Montoya has now told AS Colombia’s YouTube channel that he doesn’t feel the Argentinian is the only candidate for the second Sauber seat.

Juan Pablo Montoya feels Gabriel Bortoleto ‘deserves’ the Sauber drive ahead of the 2025 season

Sauber have been a backmarker throughout 2024, but they have multiple talented drivers to choose from for next season.

Bottas would be a reliable option after spending three years with the team. Mick Schumacher has also been ruled out by Sauber boss Mattia Binotto, who favours retaining Bottas after opting against the German.

Meanwhile, Montoya has explained that Gabriel Bortoleto, who is leading the Formula 2 championship, is a contender for the Sauber seat in Formula 1, although Colapinto has been performing well.

He said: “Franco has done a great job, and I don’t take that away from him at all. But I’m not going to come here and say that Franco is the one and he is the only one who deserves the Sauber seat, that Franco is so good that they [Williams] should cancel the contract with Carlos Sainz so Franco can go the other way.

“I said that Franco has done such a good job that it makes his teammate think a lot [about] how good is he. Gabriel Bortoleto deserves the Sauber seat, too. And the truth is, the most logical option would be to stay with Bottas for at least one more year.”

A young driver may not be what Sauber needs before being taken over by Audi in 2026

Sauber have been unable to score a point this season and they will be more expectations in two years’ time as they will be a works team with Audi.

The German manufacturer will be wanting to see signs of improvement next year as a young driver may be more prone to errors on the track.

A more experienced driver such as Bottas may be a better prospect as he is a more well-known quantity and he has much more experience in F1.

Bortoleto and Colapinto have proven to be talented drivers but there is a lot more pressure as a full-time Formula 1 driver.