Pourchaire, Bortoleto still in play for 2025 Stake seat

New Sauber Motorsport boss Mattia Binotto says there are a number of drivers in contention for a 2025 seat with Stake and would not rule out a chance for Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire, who has gone on to made a strong impression in IndyCar (pictured above) or McLaren’s F2 rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. Binotto has started work as COO and CTO at Sauber, having been announced before the summer break, with Red Bull’s current sporting director Jonathan Wheatley set to join him as team principal next year. Following Mercedes’ confirmation of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Alpine’s decision to promote Jack Doohan in 2025, Stake has the only remaining seat outside of the Red Bull program, and Bortoleto has been linked after an impressive rookie season in F2. “Firstly, Theo is our reserve driver today so somehow he is already part of the family and no doubt he is on our list,” Binotto said. “Gabriel is doing very well today in F2 — I think he should be a great talent and certainly we are looking at what he is doing, as we are looking at many others. I don’t think that’s the only name where we are focusing our attention. “So there are many names on the list. Great potential, great expertise, great experience. It’s a matter that we have to judge what’s most important for us in the short, medium and long term, and we will go for a clear plan — which today I don’t really have an answer for you.” Bortoleto’s feature race win from last on the grid in Monza has left him just 10.5 points off the lead of the F2 championship, but Binotto says he is still working alongside his new team to understand whether a rookie or an experienced driver would be the best choice for next season. “It’s a couple of weeks I am there, so it’s not only for myself — I am certainly sharing my impressions for the next steps,” he said. “It’s certainly something that we need to judge — are we going for experience or for something new? It’s a project which is looking to a medium-long-term objective, or even a long-term objective, so what’s the best for us from now to the final goal? Is it having more short-term experience and then moving to something different? “We are certainly listening to all of the potential drivers. We are certainly evaluating the pros and the cons, what’s the best compromise? In the end it’s a choice that you make on the balance of all the aspects. “We will decide as soon as possible, no doubt, because we need to set up the team for next year and for the future. And we need to stop any speculation, because it’s not in our interests. But so far no decision on what will be best. It’s the type of evaluations we are doing right now, and hopefully very soon we will come to a conclusion.”