Former Ferrari Team Principal and newly-appointed Sauber Chief Operating and Chief Technical Officer Mattia Binotto is gearing up Sauber for its transition to an Audi works team in 2026, coinciding with the introduction of the new power unit regulations.

Audi is expected to finalize its takeover of the current Stake/Sauber team in early 2025, but a decision on the second driver hasn’t been made yet.

Nico Hulkenberg, who was Audi's main priority as a German driver, is the only confirmed driver for Stake/Audi for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, leaving one spot still open with several contenders in the mix.

Current Stake F1 drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are both keen on securing the seat, with Bottas being the a bit better position than Zhou, thanks to his experience. However, according to recenze news, reserve driver Theo Pourchaire and McLaren's F2 junior driver Gabriel Bortoleto are also being considered.

Theo Pourchaire, F2 2023 champion, has been kind of over-looked by F1 until now. Currently he is only a reserve driver for Kick Sauber, who has a lot of hidden potential, which Binotto wants to discover.

On the other hand, Gabriel Bortoleto’s recent F2 win in Monza and his current second position in the Driver's Championship standings has only boosted his chances as a contender for the 2025 vacang seat. Binotto views the Brazilian as a talent with tremendous potential and would like to give him the chance in F1.

Matia Binotto spoke his mind to the media regarding the situation.

"Theo is our present reserve driver and is already part of the family, and no doubt that he is on our list," Binotto told the media.

"Gabriel is doing very well in F2, he has shown to be a great talent. Certainly we are looking to what he is doing as we are looking to many others, I don't see that as the only name in which we are focusing our attention. 

"So there are many names on the list, great potential, great expertise, great experience. Again, it's a matter of you need to judge what's most important for us in the short, medium and long-term.

"A clear, clear plan, which today I do not have really an answer for," he finished the answer with.