Tim Coronel shares which F1 star should ‘make room’ for a young driver in 2025

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Sauber’s torrid 2024 campaign wears on as the Swiss outfit still remain the only team yet to score a point.

After languishing at the back of the grid at the Singapore Grand Prix, it looks like it is going to take a miracle for Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu to get the Sauber into the top 10 with its glaringly obvious lack of performance.

This will no doubt be extremely concerning for the team and their CTO Mattia Binotto, as the Swiss outfit are set to become Audi in 2026, with the German manufacturer bringing their own power unit into F1.

The team have already made drastic changes off the track as they look to prepare for Audi’s arrival. Nico Hulkenberg has already been confirmed as their driver for 2025 on a multi-year deal.

However, with just six races to go, it is still unclear as to who will be the German’s teammate for next season. Zhou Guanyu is expected to become a reserve driver for 2025 and thus will end his three-year stay in F1.

Bottas has been the favourite to retain his seat at Sauber, with previous reports suggesting that he had already agreed a new deal. However, Bottas himself has said that such news is not true, leaving his current future in F1 uncertain at this stage.

Tim Coronel believes Valtteri Bottas should ‘make room’ for Gabriel Bortoleto or Franco Colapinto at Sauber in 2025

Speaking on the RacingNews365 YouTube channel, Tim Coronel believes that the Finn should be moving out of F1 in favour of a young talent looking to prove his worth in the sport.

Sauber have been linked with a whole host of drivers to fill their second seat. F2 title contender Gabriel Bortoleto has been seen in talks with Mattia Binotto, with the Brazilian being considered a strong candidate.

Franco Colapinto’s impressive performance at Williams in place of Logan Sargeant have also caught the attention of the Swiss outfit. James Vowles has confirmed talks with Audi for Colapinto, as the team principal looks to get the Argentinian a full-time seat.

And according to Coronel, it is drivers like Bortoleto and Colapinto that should be given their chance in F1.

When asked if Bottas deserved to keep his seat at Sauber, he replied: “Absolutely not. It is the lowest team, he also started at the top, not entirely true because he started with Williams and then to Mercedes.

“So, in the end, that is also a time of coming and going and he is a top guy who really drove some good races, like Ricciardo, more of a personality.

“Real respect for the man, no problem, but at a certain point, you have to make room. You know, you talk about it yourself, a Colapinto, who should be there, should be there now. He has just shown that he is good enough, and then you have Bortoleto.

“I don’t understand it. I think those kinds of people should give them a chance.”

Valtteri Bottas and Gabriel Bortoleto could both be announced as Sauber drivers

As the 2024 season heads to another four-week break before the United States Grand Prix, it is anyone’s guess as to who will partner Hulkenberg at Sauber in 2025.

Reports have suggested that Bottas and Gabriel Bortoleto are expected to be announced as Sauber drivers, with the latter joining the team as their third driver. However, Bottas’ future remains a mystery, with the Finn also believed to be considering a move to IndyCar.

If the news that Bottas and Bortoleto are joining the team turn out to be true, it will spell bad news for Colapinto and his F1 future, who is currently proving his worth with some excellent performances at Williams.

Whoever it is that will get the seat at Sauber next year, it is not expected to be a pleasant season as the team look glued to the bottom of the constructors’ championship.