Will Buxton says Audi could have a ‘classic line-up’ if 271-race driver joins them

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Sauber have been floundering throughout the 2024 Formula 1 season, and they are the only team yet to score a point.

The Swiss team have suffered from a car that lacks raw speed and has been rooted to the back of the field, consistently getting knocked out in Q1.

Sauber have also struggled operationally, particularly in the pit lane with comically slow pit stops that have cost them valuable time in races.

They will transform into Audi for 2026, coinciding with Formula 1’s sizeable regulation change, but they are showing no hallmarks of a team with potential.

Sauber also needs to decide on its driver line-up. Nico Hulkenberg will join the team next season, and he knows it won’t be easy. The outfit needs to decide who will partner with the German driver, but they are running out of time.

Will Buxton believes Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez would be a ‘classic line-up’

Sauber will surely benefit from the vast amount of experience and talent Hulkenberg possesses before being taken over by Audi.

The 37-year-old is one of the older drivers on the grid and is returning to the team he drove for during a single season in 2013, finishing 10th in the standings.

Speaking on the Weekend Warm-Up show on F1’s YouTube channel, Will Buxton claimed that the experienced partnership of Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez would be a ‘classic line-up.’

He said: “Checo [Perez] and Hulkenberg. That’s like a classic lineup.”

The pair has more than 400 race starts in Formula 1 and were teammates for three seasons from 2014 to 2016 at Force India.

They were formidable contenders in the midfield during that time, enjoying the benefits of the Mercedes power unit which was by far the class of the field.

Sauber may also choose to keep Valtteri Bottas in the car for next season, the Finnish driver has won 10 Grands Prix and has critical experience of winning races and consistently succeeding.

Lawrence Barretto believes Sauber would prefer an experienced driver over a rookie

Having two experienced drivers could be vital ahead of 2026 as Formula 1 introduces its new regulations, which are vastly different from those of the current generation of cars.

Sauber isn’t the most attractive option on the grid due to their consistent lack of raw speed and errors early in the season.

Bottas is not confirmed on the grid for next year and has a lack of options as most of the seats for 2025 have been secured.

Barretto believes that Sauber are looking for a more experienced driver rather than a rookie which may help the Finnish driver keep his spot on the grid.

He said: “I think the difficult time down there at Sauber Audi is that they’ve just had a change in management.

“Obviously, they’re going to want to have their own ideas about who they want in that car. It sounds like they want experience.

“That obviously leans towards keeping Valtteri Bottas in the car because ultimately, that’s his only shot now, I think, of staying on the grid for next year the way the other seats have fell.”