With the 2025 grid almost finalized, the soon-to-be Audi team has yet to decide who will partner Nico Hülkenberg next season.
Initially, Carlos Sainz was tipped to join the Hinwil-based team before the Spaniard ultimately decided to join Williams instead following the uncertainty about the competitiveness of the project.
Finalising their lineup for next year is a priority for newly hired Audi COO and CTO Mattia Binotto. To do so, the Italian needs to agree with the Audi executives on their preference for the project, would they prefer an experienced driver or a young driver?
Drivers like Valtteri Bottas can fit the bill if the group decides on the former, while Sauber junior Théo Pourchaire or F2 star Gabriel Bortoleto are in the mix should they go for a younger driver.
Binotto says it is still early to decide because he has just recently joined the team and will take his time to assess his options as this is a long-term project.
“It’s a couple of weeks I’m there, so it’s early for me. But it’s definitely something that we need to judge: are we going for experience or something else?
“Is it more having short-term experience and then moving to something different? We need to decide and today I think we are not in the position to answer.
“This is a project which is looking to a long-term objective, so [the question is] what’s the best for us from now to the final goal? We are certainly listening to all potential drivers. We are certainly evaluating what the pros and the cons are for the best compromise.”
The 54-year-old states that the team wanted to make a decision as soon as possible as Sauber is currently struggling with performance and sorting out this issue is crucial for their future.
“We will decide as soon as possible, no doubt because we need to set up the team for next year and for the future. We need to, as well, stop any speculations, because it is not in our interest. But so far, there is no decision on what will be best.”
Incumbent driver Bottas is hinted to stay with the outfit. Pourchaire and Bortoleto are also in the conversation, nonetheless. However, outsiders such as Red Bull’s Liam Lawson and Mercedes’ Mick Schumacher have also been linked with the switch to Sauber in the past.
One thing is for sure, Binotto confirms that Pourchaire is “no doubt” on their shortlist. He also states that the team is keeping a close eye on Bortoleto’s progress. Audi has many drivers to consider, each with great potential or great experience.
“Theo is our reserve driver today, so somehow he’s already part of the family and no doubt that he’s on our list. Gabriel is doing very well today in F2, I think he has shown to be a great talent, and certainly we are looking to what he’s doing – as we are looking to many others.
“I don’t see these are the only names on which we are focusing our attention. There are many names in the list, with great potential, great expertise, and great experience.”
The second driver dilemma is something that the team currently has no answer to as they need a clear plan moving forward.
“Again, it’s a matter of we need to judge what’s most important for us in the short, medium, and long term, and go for a clear plan – which today I do not have really an answer for now.”
After being crowned champion of F2 last year, Pourchaire has been spending the current season on the sidelines waiting for the opportunity for any team to take a chance on him. He briefly drove for Arrow McLaren before he got brutally dumped.
“I just need an opportunity. That’s it. I’m asking myself this question, too, every day. I don’t know.
“I did my best on the track. For sure, some people say that winning the championship in the third year of F2 is not looking great. But I won it when I was 20 years old. I’m the youngest ever race winner in F2, in F3 – so I don’t have to prove anything on the track.”
