As whose got the Biggest Wallet of All?
Leading up to the United States Grand Prix at
the Circuit Of The Americas, nee COTA weekend. Scuttlebutt suggested that
current Sauber F1 driver Valtteri Bottas was on Pole to retain His seat another
year at Sauber. Being the lone, unconfirmed seat for the 2025 F1 season. With
the seat remaining open after Carlos Sainz, Jr. rejected Audi’s offer, and went
to Williams instead for 2025.
Although some had said not so fast Valtteri!
With the likes of the promising Formula 2 points leader Gabriel Bortoleto being
mentioned. Along with current Williams F1 rookie sensation Franco Colapinto.
With Mick Schumacher being a perceived longshot.
Next, an even more distant long shot was added
to the “Spin cycle”. With current Haas F1 driver Kevin Magnussen’s name being
mentioned…
Interestingly all three of these Young Turk’ drivers
are “tied” to other Formula 1 outfits. With Bortoleto being a McLaren
Development Driver member, and Colapinto a Williams F1 Academy driver. Whilst
Mick is the current Mercedes GP test and reserve driver. Along with being a
current Alpine Sports Car Pilote’ in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
(WEC)
Yet initial scuttlebutt claimed that Bortoleto
and Colapinto weren’t available, even though Williams F1 Boss James Vowels has
said He’s open to loaning out Colapinto next year; naturally for the right
price!
While former Formula 1 driver Christian Danner
has told Schumacher to go to IndyCar if “Plan A” doesn’t work out! And
Hans-Joachim Stuck advises Mick against joining the Sauber/Audi project.
As it’ll be somewhat interesting to “See” how
this pans out. Or will it just be anti-climatic with the obligatory press
release telling us how excited Bottas is to get to work at Sauber next season? For
which we all hold our breaths, as Mattia Binotto says He’d like to confirm the
second driver by mid-November…
Meanwhile in other Audi ownership news regarding
Sauber. Surely you’ve all read or heard that management shook up the pecking
order during this summer. With the dismissals of Audi’s Sauber project manager
(CEO) Andreas Seidl and Sauber Chairman of the Board Oliver Hossman.
Installing former Ferrari Team Principal Mattia
Binotto as the new team leader. As Binotto, who shortly turns 55 becomes it’s
Chief Operation and Chief Technical Officer. While Gernot dollner replaces
Hossman as Chairman of all Sauber companies.
Longtime Red Bull Racing F1 member, and the
team’s current Sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, whose been at the team
forever! Will become Sauber’s new Team Principal next year. As the staff exodus
from Red Bull continues. Hmm, like Rats leaving a Sinking Ship?
Whilst two more key team additions have been
announced. With former Ferrari F1 Sporting director and strategist Inaki Rueda, who previously worked with Binotto.
As Rueda will become the team’s new Sporting Director, punting Beat Zehnder to
a role with the legacy side of Sauber.
While Giampaolo Dall’Ara will become the team’s
new Race Engineering boss at the Hinwil factory. Not to be cornfuzed with the
legednous’ Giampaolo Dallara, the 87yr old proprietor of Dallara Automobili.
As Dall’Ara is a former Sauber employee who’s
been running His own consulting company since 2016, according to Racer’s Chris
Medland.
Now the only question remaining, is can Sauber
pull itself up from last upon the F1 Grid?
But that was before reading more scuttlebutt
regarding Liam Lawson’s arrival at Racing Bulls as Daniel Ricciardo’s
replacement. Suggesting it could trigger a contest between the Kiwi’ and RB
teammate Yuki Tsunoda, to potentially become Max Verstappen’s teammate next
year. As the rumours persist that Checo’, aka Sergio Perez is still on shaky
ground regarding His new two year contract extension. With Red Bull’s Pied
Piper Chris Horner sending mixed signals about will He, won’t He return next
year?
While there was quite the kerfuffle upon social
media over what appeared to be Lawson giving Perez the middle finger at 300
clicks’. (186mph) With the Kiwi’ youngster telling Checo He’s Number One in
Mexico City, Ole! As the two protagonists fought over P17 on the grid…
Thus, if one of the two Racing Bulls drivers
were promoted, this would leave a seat open for current FIA F2 and Red Bull
Junior driver Isack Hajar. So may be there’s still two seats not confirmed for
2025 yet? You make the call.
While the latest rumour over the Brazilian
Grand Prix weekend was that McLaren has agreed to release Gabriel Bortoledo
from His contract in order to go to Audi on a long term deal. As Sauber made
official what had been reported on Wednesday, November 6th, selecting
Bordoleto as Nico Hulkenberg’s teammate beginning in 2025.
Meaning that “serve” has moved to Red Bull to decide over who’ll partner Max next year? With Horner having dropped by the Williams Hospitality “Villa” over the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend to chat with Team Principal James Vowles over Franco Colapinto’s availability…
