WHO GETS F1'S LAST SEAT? Opinions on the Contenders for Sauber's Open Slot

Bottas is currently favourite, but there are a lot of drivers that could be in contention: An F2 points leader, an existing driver who is a race winner, a new kid who has slotted in at Williams well, and there's Mick as well since he always comes up.
But Sauber, who are transitioning into Audi have a lot of choice, but they need to make the right one. New regualtions come in for 2025 so we need to weigh up some pros and cons here.
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[@IanTheMotorsportsMan_YT]

My condolences to anybody that is gonna race for Sauber next year

[@bzilla-d4i]

They should be fine until the new regs kick in and Audi takes full control. Then the shift starts. Sauber has always done well under new/joint ownership. With BMW they went from 5th in their 1st season, to 2nd and 3rd in the constructors till BMW pulled the plug.

[@ryhatism]

@@bzilla-d4iI mean they were really 3rd in 2007 cause of the whole spygate thing. Either way I get your point, however the Audi situation is different than BMW, this is Audi’s first ever F1 entry while BMW prior to Sauber were supplying Williams a year prior and even more prior to that Brabham in the 80s.

[@mica7191]

It's a been a Ferrari powered black-green tractor all 2024

[@mica7191]

2025 will be full of rookies... Antonelli, Bearman, Doohan ...

[@bzilla-d4i]

@@ryhatism Audi has the Motorsport experience, the VAG machine has done the work. They have the expertise of Porsche to call on in this case as they themselves have lifted titles in F1 with McLaren. Also they were 2nd not 3rd. You don't count a team who were clearly cheating and ripping off Ferrari's ideas, and they paid the price for that, $100 million. That's even worse than the Renault crash gate.

[@SuperPhelix]

WE NEED MORE TEAMS!

[@MrSaywutnow]

8:38 "Never believe anything until it's officially denied." -Jim Hacker.

[@RabidJohn]

James Vowles has already said he will not hold Franco back, so I would not be at all surprised to see Red Bull swoop in and buy Colapinto out of his Williams contract to put him in whatever they decide to call the 2nd team next year. Red Bull acquiring Perez wasn't showing on any radar until it happened, so they do have form.

[@Sleepy.Time.]

Franco deserves a seat more than half the field does

[@JohnRoscoeYT]

But does sauber deserve colapinto

[@AidanMillward]

Franco seems like a nice guy as well. He spoke up about merch prices and how ridiculous they are for Argentinian fans. They’re ridiculous for European fans as well but for Argentinians it’s probably MUCH worse.

[@facundomartinez188]

Right now, Sauber deserve Yuji Ide..

[@16jan1986]

Wrong it is Magnussens spot

[@AntoniusTyas]

@@facundomartinez188 unfortunately I do agree.

[@Tinei1]

If logic prevails franco should get it and if mick was so good he would be in that merc or the alpine

[@AidanMillward]

Says something about Mick that not Mercedes, Alpine or Sauber want him.

[@petrolheadJJ]

Postcards. I remember those. We used to receive those before we were evicted from our hole in the ground.

[@brokentuskclan1795]

Hole? You were lucky. We had to be steam-rolled every night on broken glass.

[@petrolheadJJ]

@@brokentuskclan1795 you try and tell young people of today that... They won't believe you.

[@petrolheadJJ]

@@brokentuskclan1795 now you try and tell the young people of today that... they won't believe you.

[@socalraven17]

Thèo Pourchaire should definitely have a drive. F2 champion that’s been reduced to semi part time ride in Indy with Arrow? Nah. Kid is good and deserves a shot.

[@dvddobson]

Honestly you do give the best videos about f1. Liam was not lost on those of us that have been watching for 30 or more years. Cheers

[@brokentuskclan1795]

Colapinto makes the points twice with a handful of races, during which Stroll can't find the top ten in his 8th season. 'We're building the best team'

[@rthraitor]

Stroll isn’t losing his seat until his dad sells the team lol, he’s literally guaranteed a seat.

[@Calilasseia]

​​@@rthraitor... in any rational universe, Stroll would be nursing a sore pair of buttocks and a P45 NOW,, and Aston Martin would be trying to tap a decent replacement - possibly giving Colopinto a chance to make up for Bottas being the most likely occupant of the Sauber seat. Instead, Stroll is blocking a seat because Daddy owns the team and runs it in part as his personal plaything. Even that Russian guy whose name I've forgotten could probably do better than Stroll, who seems to have a fetish for pirouetting in sand. Of course, this could all change if, say, Stroll is abducted by aliens, his daddy is arrested for insider trading fraud, or someone in the FIA has the balls to tell said daddy to ditch his nappy wetting sprog, for someone who can actually drive a Formula 1 car, citing safety reasons. As in "That idiot will cause someone else to have a Grosjean type crash if he isn't told to go where he's more suited, such as a fairground pedal car track". Of course, Colopinto could screw up if given a leg up, but if so, he'd be out on his ear without a rich Daddy keeping him in the team. Conversely, if Colopinto starts to blossom into the 21st century's version of Ayrton Senna, Stroll is going to look ever more like the target for F1's flaming pitchforks, and quite right too. On reflection, if I was running Aston Martin, Stroll would be leaving the back door on the end of a boot, while I arranged for a ouija board to be added to his car, so that I could summon the ghost of Senna to pilot it until I found a driver that's [1] alive, and [2] competent. Does the FIA rule book have any prohibitions against your drivers being made of ectoplasm?

[@benpugh1986]

Franco young,hungry and more than proven his capabilities in his short spell at Williams.

[@DeathBlocks]

That's if he wants it/Audi are willing to give Williams what they would want to buy him out.

[@kevinprior3549]

This has been a really dreary wait to know who the 2nd Sauber driver will be.

[@craigcharlesworth1538]

All this shows me is, once again, F1 needs more teams because there are fewer seats than drivers who deserve to be in them.

[@Arsenic71]

No, we need quality, not quantity.

[@rexthewolf3149]

And once those seats are taken we will be back to this issue, there will always be more talents than seats.

[@A-BYTE64]

​@@Arsenic71bruh, ur so stupid

[@AvenFallen]

Sadly this is not what the current F1-Teams want.

[@FryV2]

@@Arsenic71 then that should rule out Alpine

[@WolfGamers100]

I gotta say I'd love to Drugovich to also get a seat

[@vaclav_fejt]

I guess he's just waiting for Alonso to call it quits.

[@AidanMillward]

@@vaclav_fejt Alonso is going to be there until 2041 still not winning a title.

[@vaclav_fejt]

@@AidanMillward Alas, he's like Louis Chiron now - still good, but no chance of championship. A coworker (Ferrari fan since the Schumacher years) said he doesn't know how to give driver's feedback to R&D. She said that AMR23 was brought to him on a silver platter after all the work Seb did. Welp, why can't there be a good team racing in green? I like green.

[@davidcagle920]

@@vaclav_fejt couldnt you get some kinda tinted glasses to turn blue into green? lol

[@interests3279]

Bottas has experience and is a race winner. Hulkenberg has experience. Ooof

[@teabagtowers3823]

Yeah I don't know why they signed Hulkenberg over/before Bottas because Bottas has actually won races and has the experience to help build the team. Bottas Colapinto would have been a great line-up a fresh young rookie and a experienced driver. Yeah Hulkenberg is experienced but he's not a race winner. Only reason he looks good at the moment is because he's dragging the Haas to places it's rarely been in the last few years. That and his teammate Magnussen is a pretty mediocre driver.

[@Andre_The_Millennial]

@@teabagtowers3823 Seidl signed Hulkenberg because he worked with him at Porsche LMP1 program. He's now gone.

[@teabagtowers3823]

@@Andre_The_Millennial A poor choice by someone not even there anymore

[@Andre_The_Millennial]

@@teabagtowers3823 Hulkenberg is a good choice though.

[@teabagtowers3823]

@@Andre_The_Millennial Not really Bottas is equally as experienced and has won races unlike Hulkenberg. So I don't know why they picked Hulkenberg a better line up would have been Bottas and Colapinto. A fresh new rookie and an experienced race winner who can help the team develop. Hulkenberg is just a driver that's somehow managed to stay in F1 despite his results never being that impressive.

[@georgethomas7814]

Thanks for the music. Its good to see new (Colaponto) and newish (Lawson) getting into seats this season. It would be good to see them both in drives for next year.

[@gordonwallin2368]

Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.

[@minibus9]

great video, it's a wait and see thing, certai;ly going to be interesting.

[@TheConfidentNoob]

Fun fact: When Bottas was at Mercedes, he managed to reach Q3 every single time, apart from when he had to take a grid penalty for whatever reason

[@ClaretHorace]

Colapinto should get the seat, latest rumour I've heard is Red Bull could be sniffing around him also.

[@AidanMillward]

I saw that as well on a clickbait youtube video. Some of the comments were like "you said last week Piastri was getting looked at"

[@theoriginalcraig]

Dear Aidan, Thank you for referring to the individual teams in the singular. Your mastery of grammar knows no bounds! Sincerely, Your pedantic viewers

[@r6stu]

Well this aged like milk! lol. TBF your did give Alonso's prodige a mention so fair play. Love the videos.

[@aaronboard6738]

I haven’t been so excited for Williams in so long.

[@Dexmente]

"something something asymmetric breaking" 👌🏿

[@mike04574]

It’s time to go for bottas

[@userb3nje909]

Sadly. I think you're right. Though he's a great personality and has a great social media presence.

[@ExodiaNecross2]

Welcome to f1 Bortoleto been confirmed

[@AidanMillward]

Partially called it!

[@charamia9402]

I really want to see more from Colapinto, but I would also love to see what Bortoleto could do in f1 - also it's about time we get a Brazilian on the grid again. Likewise I would have loved for Mick to get another chance in F1, but that's just my Schumacher bias. As for RedBull and their sister/daughter and the revolving door and musical chairs, nobody knows what could happen. It depends which way Marko turns his blind eye.

[@AntoniusTyas]

I hope Franco got the Sauber seat. EVEN THOUGH I would also send my condolences to Franco if he got the Sauber seat. Because it's Sauber. Who knows, maybe he'll get better team in 2026.

[@adammodan8030]

as a sauber fan, I kinda wish they could just get out of all of this and go back to WEC. The golden days are back

[@jukkaaho7962]

I’m all for promoting young drivers and Colapinto has surely been impressive, but Audi needs a period of development and for that experience is everything. For 2027 they can go for young talent, before that, it is just developing the car and the team. Hence Bottas

[@daferrarifan]

if Mick Schumacher was as good as the german media says then Mercedes would've promoted him instead of signing a rookie (Antonelli). I don't believe we'll see MSC back in F1

[@McLarenMercedes]

I saw Mick in both F3 and F2 and at no point did I think:"Hey, he is really a generational talent or akin to his father." I also saw Leclerc, Russell, Norris and Piastri in the lower formulae and rated them a lot higher. If I were Mick I would try to revitalize my career in Indycar, WEC or even Formula E. Quite a few good drivers who left F1 made a name for themselves there.

[@AvenFallen]

Regarding Red Bull and RB - I dont think that Lawson will be in the Red Bull, I am very sure that they keep Perez. However, I am 100% sure that Lawson will be in F1 next year, but the only question will be if he will be in the same team at the end of the season compared to the start of the season. Because I think that while Perez will stay at Red Bull, I doubt that they will be as patient next year if the same thing which happend multiple times already is happening again - Perez starting good and then falling off after the first 5 races. If this happens, Lawson will switch from RB to Red Bull. Otherwise, he will stay at RB for at least 2025. (I dont think that Ricciardo has any chance, he should have not gotten a chance in 2024 already.) Regarding Sauber - I hope that Williams tries to put Colapinto there. If they leave Colapinto at Sauber for 2 years, they have no driver problem after 2026, since they probably are free to choose between Albon, Sainz and Colapinto. Colapinto is the surprise and Williams should try everything to keep him around in F1.

[@Moray2023]

I think they need a Young Gun. As much as I'd like Mick, if Colapinto has come and done so well. Imagine what Bortoletto would do.

[@rogerjohnson6676]

Yeah, it’s really hard to say, especially as Colopinto has become Crashopinto since this vid went out. And as you say Red Bull don’t know where they’re going to be depending on media speculation and their own internal politics.

[@Dashriprock4]

Absolutely no despair here about Danny leaving😊

[@nitelast]

Adding to the maloney point, this sauber question could have been answered a lot easier had he not gone to formula e, considering he was a sauber junior driver. And adding to that, pourchaire is still a sauber junior and is having to wait in the background since he won the f2 championship

[@SavingTheUndesireables]

8:38 BRUH 😂

[@AidanMillward]

He was sacked from the show for being on cocaine, but he didn’t snort it off George the Tortoise. The way they had to explain that Richard wasn’t coming back to a bunch of 7-11 year old viewers was the most awkward thing most parents ever watched. 🤣

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

I have no clue as to who _will_ go where, but thinking about what Vowles said about doing whatever he can to get Franco a drive next year (if only to keep him race sharp), it's possible that he'll offer him to Sauber and will pay his salary. Franco doesn't come with much in the way of sponsorship, so being a driver who won't cost a team anything that any other driver would cost (when it comes to building and running a car), that might be a positive for him. One year, no wage, has already proven himself to be damned good at his job. He'll be less of a risk than any F1 rookie, regardless of where they finish in F2 (look at De Vries...). As they already have an experienced development driver - and bearing in mind that Sauber won't be requiring a driver who can win a race in a bad car, because I don't see them improving a _lot_ next year - retaining Bottas just because he's a proven race winner and who will cost them a lot as a result, is rather pointless. And let's be honest, he's not giving "I'm excited to be here" vibes, much like Kimi in his last couple of seasons. IMHO, Colapinto with that sort of backing could well sound good to them. Of course this depends on Vowles being prepared to pay for him and any number of other things going on in the background that we don't know about. I do hope the lad gets to stay in F1 somehow, preferably racing, because he genuinely looks like the real thing.

[@LucasOliveira-tt2ll]

It still amazes me that nasca with their monstrous 36 race schedule (plus non points races) still finishes their year before F1 nowadays. I believe Liberty will try to end the season in the final weekend of the calendar year

[@ic3man]

10:58 I’d argue despite Ayumu Iwasa having yet to win a Super Formula race, he’s still close to the top 3 in points and I’d suggest that Ayumu Iwasa would either partner Yuki or Liam (whoever doesn’t replace Checo) I’d assume they’d have Hadjar as a reserve for 2025 with a promise for a seat for 2026

[@Orcawhale1]

Give it to Kevin, so we can see more of his mayhem.

[@unique11124]

That man is a *racer* who will put on a show. LIberty would be well advised to add another 2 teams just to keep guys like him around.

[@ic3man]

From what I’ve heard, Mick Schumacher will get the seat alongside Hülkenberg and Robert Shwartzman will be their reserve for 2025-onwards while he races for Prema’s Indycar team alongside Callum Ilott

[@TheJosu145]

We need Gabriel Bortoletto in F1

[@jjharson7344]

100% agree, I've been watching him in F2 this year, the guy seems phenomenal - he has shades of the Legendary ARYTON SENNA! yeah I said it! :D

[@Disco_S]

I think with RB and RBVCARD. Perez stays for 2025 (or part of) and if Lawson keeps going well then it could be a mid year driver change like what has been done before with other teams. I would so love Danny Ric to come back in the cockpit of and F1 car, but i hate to say it, i dont think a team would pick him up. But i go hope that he can keep racing somewhere

[@TaralgaBushAdventure]

my vote is for Daniel at Audi - they need experience across good cars to help them move forward.

[@SpaceHCowboy]

Dangerous move considering he's not good enough for a Toro Roso and has the mental strength and grit of a water balloon.

[@wenkR]

I think Mick becomes the Seat, young and many experience... This is what Audi need

[@chrislaing7153]

I wonder how long Stroll will retain his seat. With the Valkyrie AMR-LMH hitting the track next year, I wonder if Stroll will move across and leave a seat open at Aston. I suspect that Lawrence will see what James has done at Williams when he axed Logan. At the end of the day, Lawrence's job is to sell cars. AM are investing huge amounts in upgrading the car development process and the board will be wanting to see a return on tht investment.

[@Thomamps]

Really sounds like we need an eleventh team in F1

[@_Ben4810]

Poor old Valtteri post race seen on Ted's Notebook from COTA looked so hacked-off...His heart's clearly not in it anymore, even if his bank account is....

[@McLarenMercedes]

Well, even if his story in F1 ends this year let's just say that 10 wins, 20 poles, 67 podiums, 1797 points and a *lot* of money from his rather lucrative contracts is something most drivers entering F1 would kill to achieve. For those who can't be a Senna, Schumacher, Hakkinen or Hamilton... ....it's rather good to be a Berger, Barrichello, Coulthard or Bottas. He certainly didn't forget how to drive given that in his first season at Alfa Romeo finished ahead of both Ricciardo in the McLaren and Vettel in the Aston Martin. I also dont think that Verstappen, Hamilton or whoever could score any points in that 2024 "Kick" Sauber.

[@BarbaricAvatar]

@@McLarenMercedes The problem is he's not giving it his all this year: He should be annihilating Zhou in every race and he's not. That should worry any potential employer: If the cars not good enough for Bottas then he'll phone-in his weekend performance.

[@GaryWagers]

I really despise how F2 forces champions out of the sport regardless of the opportunities (or obvious lack thereof) available to them. Some of the finest drivers in the world, and their careers are cut short because they're too good. It's idiotic.

[@reet-ko9lg]

considering you pay to drive in f2, and if you became champion there would certainly be an indy or wec contract offer to pay for your services, i don’t think many would return anyway

[@Tacko14]

Oof. Before I'd even consider signing with Sauber, I'd have a chat with Carlos and ask him why he didn't. As it is, it's better to show promise and not have a drive, than to drive for them and get dragged to the bottom with that millstone of a car around your neck. Is Audi still all that commited?

[@jjharson7344]

Carlos will drag that Williams much further up the grid than AA, who is already getting outshone by Pintofcoke, just goes to show his team mates definitely flattered to deceive. I think Albon is overrated personally.

[@iluvfionaleggate]

Taking on a young rookie is normally a risk that’s why teams think twice about it, but Colapinto has already proven his worth after a handful of races, and the advantage of a rookie is you can pay them substantially less than the likes of Bottas, if your car isn’t scoring points anyway, may as well save millions on the driver in the process… Bottas having the front to try and demand more money when he isn’t doing anything of note in that awful car anyway is amazingly cheeky

[@haydenw8691]

Bottas is in a no win situation. He is 23rd in a 20 car standings so either he gets let go because of a lack of results or stays on to drive for an uncompetitive team.

[@rafaelcaus3762]

They will keep Bottas.

[@PenryMMJ]

"Bottas is a race winner", yes that's true. in 2021, armed with a Mercedes he won 1 race. So if Sauber / Audi manage to achieve Mercedes levels of dominance he might get lucky enough to win 1 race. Having said that though, he has won a race seven years more recently than Alonso. The real problem with F1 is "seat blockers" hanging for years after their sell by date blocking access to F1 for young talent.

[@tomhutchins7495]

I wonder whether 2024 will manage to have a full-season silly season? It seems in keeping with this year.

[@prettyprrrrettaygood]

Mick Returns is our gen's Elvis Sighted. Ffs people, move on.

[@rthraitor]

Tbf I think mick somewhat deserves another chance. He was a decent bit faster than K mag at the end of 2022, although he needs to stop crashing lol

[@prettyprrrrettaygood]

@@rthraitor Idk. Bearman and Colapinto raced on short notice and impressed right away. And they arrived without a demanding entourage or thus far millions in repair bills

[@rthraitor]

@@prettyprrrrettaygood yeah well that’s his biggest issue lol, I’m not gonna deny he’s crash happy. Bearman also hasn’t exactly have a great season, even if Prema aren’t great he’s been pretty handedly beaten by Antonelli

[@AidanMillward]

I think the surname tax blinds people a bit.

[@prettyprrrrettaygood]

@@AidanMillward💯. thank you

[@ibex485]

Audi signing Hulkenberg was great news, a widely liked & admired driver finally getting his big break (we hope). But Audi have actually backed themselves into a corner by signing him, as he's both old (so not a long-term prospect) and despite such a long career still unproven to a degree? Yes he's had many great drives, but there's no escaping the fact he's never had a podium, even when his team-mates driving the same mediocre cars did get odd podiums. However much you like & rate the guy (& I do) it's a question mark which cannot be ignored. So who can Audi put alongside him? If they go with a talented youngster with long-term prospects, then they've got two unproven drivers - which many would argue is about the worst mistake a new or rebuilding team can make. It would be wonderful to see Colapinto given the race seat he's shown he deserves. Having two unproven drivers would be a huge risk, and he's not a long-term prospect for Audi either, as he's Williams' man. The only proven driver on the market is Bottas. While he not shown signs of being the driver he once was, he ticks all the boxes for continuity, consistency, experience & proven ability. He should be a quantity the team knows well - exactly what they need to have. Trying to develop a car without a driver which is a reliable benchmark usually leads to disaster. The driver Audi desperately needed was Sainz, he ticked all the boxes for both performance, proven ability and being a long-term investment & a free-agent. Losing him to Williams was unthinkable, a sign that the mess Audi were (are) in must have been colossal. Will signing Hulkenberg end up being the classic manufacturer (especially Toyota) mistake of marketing reasons influencing (or overriding) their choice of driver? Such decisions being made at corporate level not team level? (For the record, I really do like Hulkenberg & have alway rated him highly. It's a tragedy for both him and the team that Williams could not afford to keep him for 2011.)

[@VulgrDisplay]

I would say there is going to be an open seat at one of the red bull teams very soon.

[@sezniteowl5398]

Mick should be given a second chance, he had a decent 2022 season in F1 despite the crashes overshadowing the points he scored. Mick has done very well in WEC, being the fastest driver out of his co drivers in Alpine's #36 Hypercar. He also has done great simulator work for Mercedes' F1 team.

[@camrsr5463]

Kalle Ravin Pera (spelling)

[@wabba67]

Fun fact: only three countries have had a driver on the grid each season (season, not in every race) since 1989. Great Britain, Germany, and… Finland. If Bottas loses his seat, this weird streak will come to an end.

[@AnimaDweller]

I'd say give it to Mick. At the moment that Sauber seat is probably the worst thing you can get. But if he somehow makes it work then he kinda proves himself. If he doesn't it's not like you had a title fighting car in the first place so you don't really lose a lot. Franco deserves a seat, but he deserves a better one. He's playing the "I'll justt wait for carlos or Albon to have a bad season" card

[@sidsuspicious]

No Blue Peter badge for you young man.

[@caphowdy666]

I don't think what Vowles said about Schumacher is incorrect or unfair. Simple fact is, Mick is signed to Mercedes and they did not even consider him to replace Hamilton. He is also connected to Alpine through WEC and they should now interest either. I have heard zero rumours about him going to Audi just Mick fans who say he should. With a lot of things a name carries a lot of weight, but in motorsport it carries a lot of expectation if the name you are carrying belonged to a hugely successful driver. Villeneuve, Hill, Sainz & Rosberg all managed to pull it off to different degrees. Andretti, Fittipaldi, Senna and Piquet did not. The likes of Verstappen, Magnussen, Nakajima and Palmer did not have the same level of name reputation to live up to, so in many respects expectations were never that high. People expected way too much from Mick, especially considering the team he was with, but at the same time he did himself no favours. Maybe a slightly older Mick might have his head together better, but the reputation he created for himself as a crash artist does nothing to make any team think he is worth taking a punt on, especially if the team who he is currently signed for has no interest in a race seat for him.

[@chrislaing7153]

You forgot the other Schumacher in your list above - Ralf

[@caphowdy666]

@@chrislaing7153 There is probably more I could have mentioned such as the Brabhams, but I think people get the gist.

[@terminateshere]

I expect at least one of the top teams to have their lineup implode next year. The 2025 lockout over seats is likely temporary.

[@kevinamery5922]

The one thing that makes me question Sauber / Audi signing Bottas is they could have done it ages ago. Binnotto took over in what, August? and has seen Bottas drive multiple races. He already drives for them and seems to want the drive. Either he's asking for redikalous money or they're not sold on him. I think Colapinto would be a good partner to Hulk with good upside for down the road once Audi gets the team sorted out. I think Perez gets cut and Lawson goes to the main RBR taem as long as he performs for the rest of the season at the level he did in Austin.

[@rthraitor]

I think Bortoleto will get it, guy is pretty good

[@detectivepayne3773]

if i was in charge of the decision making i'd much rather poach a junior driver to partner hulkenberg than resign bottas, bottas has already shown everything he can do before, he won't get much better, Sauber, logically, should have an experienced older driver who knows the ins and outs of car development that can serve as a reliable benchmark, and then a promising young gun to lead them to future glory

[@patmanbnl]

Too many drivers for not enough seats? If only there was an 11th team.

[@MrSniperfox29]

Funny thing is even if Andretti was starting next year, none of the drivers mentioned would be in contention for one of their seats

[@A-BYTE64]

12 teams

[@Kuromori-v9z]

Too bad that if Andretti joined, they'd inevitably sign Colton Herta, so that's just one extra seat.

[@jethinabox]

is there anyone that Honda would bring to the fore as a replacement to their endorsed Tsunoda, should they not be convinced of his performances (especially in comparison to his new mate thats bettering his results)? that seems like a more likely "in" to the RB team than the other single seat

[@paulgilbert9346]

I was that Tortoise!

[@rs660alec]

It’s time to go for Bottas unless it’s another top team.

[@footynutguy]

I’m surprised that there isn’t a crazy who’s suggested that Nigel Mansell will make a comeback in one of those seats.

[@AidanMillward]

@@footynutguy probably because they’ve all moved on to Mick now.

[@brethollingsworth5257]

I love Bottas but Colapinto should get the seat for at least 1 year to see if he can continue to impress.

[@christodejong42]

Pouchaire is also just going to be forgotten in this

[@amaccama3267]

Perez to VCARB. Now, there's a possibility no one seems to be discussing. I wonder what his contract states?

[@DrDezaro]

Putting aside that if Liam goes well that he may be an Aussie after all, is 2025 the first time in F1 that two Aussie drivers are starting in the sport? (Not counting Weber-Ricciardo as Weber was on his way out when Ricciardo joined the grid.

[@durkarabble]

Makes you kind of wonder if the old way of going into qualifying meant qualifying for the race based on you being one of the top X drivers allowed instead of simply figuring out what position you start in should come back... Yeah, I know that's unrealistic as it costs 74 arms 83 legs, and 61.7 kidneys to bring a car to qualifying, but I could see it working as long as you announce yourself as a potential competitor ahead of the season, build a car to the specs, follow the cost cap, etc... The one thing a new team needs a lot of before they ever enter their first race though is a colossal amount of testing and wind tunnel time which the current rules wouldn't allow.

[@16jan1986]

Magnussen speaks german also hulkenberg and mag has a good working relationship. Furthermore magnussen is younger the bottas and still has potential and on his good days on level with Hulkenberg

[@cosmostrek2001]

the cola guy. but the audi team might be cancelled . if volkswagen is in that big of trouble. where they are going to lay off workers and close plants. how can they justify a formula 1 team? if they layoff workers they are going to have to cut the ceo and management salaries. the f1 team would also be cut.

[@Cigar2]

Well umbrella of course....

[@AeroGuy07]

Lewis and Nico are about the same age and its been said, jokingly(sometimes), that Ferrari is the F1 retirement home for past champions. How much time do either of them have left? Sainz to Williams shocked me. He's going from the top to the bottom. Maybe Williams has something up their sleeve, and they're going to come out 2009 Brawn GP style in 2026?

[@Vallcry75]

The way I see it, Sauber will use Mick as a scape goat to make Bottas to sing for less money. I could say the same for Collapinto and Bortoleto however if the rumors are true that both drivers are out of Sauber's list as potential replacement. It could be a small chance for Mick to return to F1. I read online that Audi will make a dessition mid November so we will have to wait and see. Edit: I forgot Theo but again we will have to wait and see!

[@SteveDull]

Mind still boggles that RB didn't sign Sainz.

[@Alex.The.Lionnnnn]

Well it's colapinto isn't it? Actually, Colapinto in Checco's seat.

[@zenon459]

Whoever is racing in that car next year, I hope to god it doesnt look like *that* monstrosity

[@Kam1Kaz3NL77]

Just imagine that at Mexico, Perez accidentally punts Max out of the race, what about his future at Red Bull then? I think that would be forced immediate retirement :P

[@jjharson7344]

if James Vowles has any sense, he should drop Albon for Pintofcoke, Our beloved Williams team could finish 5th or higher next year with that line up of Sainz and the young Argentine. just my two pence worth.

[@Snufflegrunt]

The last thing that Sauber need is an all-new driver lineup. Keeping Bottas for at least one more season would be wise. Maybe get Mick in for a few FP1 runs, see how he does and go from there. Colapinto... well let's just say that he doesn't suit the (in theory) British brand that is Williams, to be as politically correct as possible. We've already seen how he treats Brundle. RB have an interest in him, and he would probably be happier there.

[@hamleyn]

If Max wins the world championship (highly likely) and Red Bull finish 3rd in the constructors (not highly likely but highly possible), surely Perez is untenable at Red Bull? Which puts a huge amount of expectation on Liam's shoulders. He has to nail the last handful of races this year to win that seat. If he doesnt though, what do Red Bull do? They have no other rookies, except maybe Hadjar for VCARB, and would anyone else of higher calibre/experience want to join Red Bull after the basket case of a year they've had off track?

[@johnbeer4963]

Sauber doesn't need anymore experience, they've got Hulkenberg already and Bottas if they decide to go for him. Mick Schumacher isn't special. It's got to be Colapinto or Bottas and of those two based on results so far i pick Colapinto. Even more so if he keeps doing what he's been doing so far.

[@JoeMorgan-g4o]

Perez to Sauber/Audi ???

[@adrianzanoli]

Colapinto will replace Albon mid season next year unless Albon will perform better than Sainz. Both Sainz and Colapinto are good for business.

[@chrisstephens6194]

News flash. There's always a young driver on the up.....

[@gabewood983]

Somehow, Van Der Garde is gonna end up suing someone again

[@Andre_The_Millennial]

I understood that reference.

[@Stand_Tall]

nothing from mikka hakkinen? He's still on sabbatical and could come back

[@BarnsFacts]

Perez back at Sauber/Audi, that's why they are taking their time announcing their second driver 👀

[@lordhenrywotton95]

(Sad Theo Pourchaire noises)

[@reet-ko9lg]

it should be theo pourchaire