Aug.15 (GMM) Two Germans are reportedly close to the highest of crew proprietor Audi’s checklist to hitch Nico Hulkenberg subsequent 12 months at Sauber.
The Solar newspaper in Britain believes Mick Schumacher is being severely thought of for the position, whereas Dr Helmut Marko instructed Osterreich newspaper this week that retired quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel remains to be pushing for a return to Formulation 1.
“Vettel harmonised completely with Jonathan Wheatley (at Purple Bull) prior to now,” the newspaper defined, “and he additionally is aware of Mattia Binotto from his time at Ferrari.”
One other apparent candidate is Sauber incumbent Valtteri Bottas, who’s at present in California – and he posted a photograph of himself alongside an Audi R8 emblazoned along with his race quantity 77.
Earlier, the Finn mentioned he hoped Binotto’s arrival as boss may change the course of his 2025 contract talks.
“It will reset the talks a bit, as a result of we’ve got beforehand been in communication with Andreas (Seidl) and Oliver (Hoffmann) and now it’s Mattia,” mentioned Bottas. “So yeah, for positive that may change some issues, so we have to communicate.”
Fellow Finn and former F1 driver Mika Salo additionally thinks Bottas remains to be in with an opportunity of retaining his seat, having been part of the transition from Sauber to Audi thus far.
“Once I moved to Toyota, nothing already existed,” Salo instructed Iltalehti newspaper. “It wasn’t simple, after which I acquired fired in the course of all of it. I hope Valtteri will be capable of reap the advantages.
“Alpine remains to be being speculated, however I don’t actually see any level in shifting there,” Salo added. “It could be higher if he might proceed the place he’s already.
“I noticed him in Hungary, however I didn’t trouble to ask him about this, as a result of I knew he wouldn’t inform me something anyway,” the previous Sauber driver laughed.
