During F1’s 2024 summer break there’s ju𝕴st three spots on th💫e grid still up for grabs.

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes seat looks destined to be Andrea Kimi Antonelli's, barring a shock decision to leave Red Bull from 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen.

Jack Doohan is thought to be the frontrunner to replace 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Esteban Ocon at Alpine for next year, leavi🌱ng one seat at Sauber/Audi.

Audi missed out on their top target with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Carlos Sainz opting to join Williams, and similarly wi𒁃th Esteban Ocon, who will join Haas𝕴.

This leaves the team in a precarious position as they decide who to partner 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Nico Hulkenberg for F1 2025.

The rumours swirling around Sauber’s driver line-up have suggested that senior management were keen to have a clean sweep - replacing both 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Valtteri Bottas and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Zhou Guanyu.

However, with a change of management, with Matt𒆙ia Bin༺otto coming in, that might just change.

The obvious choice

While𒉰 in some people’s eyes it’s not the most exciting choice, Bottas is the obvious choice for Sau൲ber in 2025.

Despit♈e scoring zero points in the opening 14 races, you can make the argument 2024 has been Bottas’ stron💜gest since joining the team from Mercedes.

Bottas leads t🍌eammate Zhou 13-1 in the qualifying head-to-head, with the average margi🌺n between the pair between 0.4s to 0.5s.

The Finn’s dominance over Zhou is similar to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen’s over 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Sergio Perez, and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Alex Albon against 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Logan Sargeant.

While statistically-speaking, Zhou has fared better during the races (Bot🏅tas only leads this 9-5), bizarre strategy calls and pit stops, granted for both drivers, make it difficult to gauge race day fairly.

🥃B💜ottas does indeed sit 21st in the drivers’ championship - 21 out of 20 drivers isn’t a good look - it’s hardly been his fault.

He was💛 in the ⛄hunt for points in Australia and China, but poor pit stops and reliability put him out of contention.

Bottas remains ♌quick and alongside Hulkenberg a speedy, reliable midfield pairing.

Given Sauber have comfort♒ably the slowest team in F1 2024, a Bottas-Hulkenberg pairing is certainly more than they deserve.

The lack of options

Sauber’s rejections from the likes of Sainz a෴nd Ocon gives them limited options.

In terms of the current grid, Zhou and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Kevin Magnussen would be underwhelming to say the least, particularly for a works outfi✨t like Audi.

The Red Bull situation is an interesting one.

Had Perez been dropped mid꧒-season♛, there’s no doubt that a return to Hinwil could have been on the cards.

Let’s not forget prior to joining Red Bull, Perez was dubbed ‘king of the midfield’, and his Mexican backing always makes him an attractive option despite hജis poor form against Verstappen.

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Liam Lawson or 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Daniel Ricciardo could also be available to Sauber for next ye﷽ar depending on how the Perez situation plays out.

While in raw performance terms neither of them would be an upgrade on Bottas, it🙈 would inject some new life into the team, should they want that.

The wildcard option

As first reported by ཧ, F2 star Gabriel Bortoleto has emerged as🌜 an unlikely contender.

The 19-year-old Brazilian is currently p☂art of McLaren’s pool of drivers having joined their development programme in 2023.

Bortoleto has starred in his rooki💟e F2 season and currently sits second in the standings behind Red Bull-backed driver Isack Hadjar.

With Bearman, Doohan and Antonelli🐲 all set to join the grid in 2025, Sauber might feel it’s the perfect opportunity to give some fresh blood an opportun🌟ity ahead of the major rule changes in 2026.

With no Brazilian on the F1 grid since 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Felipe Massa in 2017, Bortoleto would fill that 🦹void and tap into a market longing for their next motorsport superstar.