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“It’s certainly a top priority because we need to decide as soon as we can, but we need as well to make the proper choice,” Binotto tells me in his first interview since taking the job. “We have no rush in a way.
“It is a priority. Why am I saying no rush? Now we have a list of drivers available and we can certainly take our time to discuss with all of them and to listen and to make the best for Sauber and Audi.
“Our journey is looking to the next years, it’s not only 2025 so when assessing the choice, we need to look at what is best knowing what we need to achieve in the future.
READ MORE: ‘It’s a bit of a complicated situation’ – Bottas says talks on future will ‘reset’ after Binotto arrival
“Valtteri [Bottas] is doing well, and certainly I have already [had] some discussions with him. A good first impression but, having said that, there are many drivers on the list and we need as Audi to take our time to assess what is best. And hopefully soon we come to a decision.”
Sauber can opt to stick with experience and keep one of Bottas or Zhou Guanyu on for a fourth season or go for youth – and choose from the likes of Gabriel Bortoleto, who is currently second in F2, Robert Shwartzman, Zane Maloney or Theo Pourchaire.
The team are the only squad yet to score in 2024 so experience would be helpful as they look to haul themselves back into the midfield. However, this is a long-term project for Sauber/Audi and, thus, a young talent who is committed for the foreseeable could make sense.
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