Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu achieved 14th and 15th place in the Australian GP. The team has not yet scored any points in the 2024 F1 season and is currently in last place in the constructors’ standings. As a result, the team’s CEO is taking action and looking for possible replacements for Bottas and Guanyu in the driver market.
Sauber finished just outside the top 10 in two out of the three races so far. Guanyu came close to scoring a point in Bahrain, but ended up just behind another driver. Meanwhile, Bottas was on track to score points in Australia, but an unsuccessful pit stop ruined his chances. Despite their efforts, the team is looking to expand their options before being acquired by Audi.
According to Motorsports magazine, Sauber will continue exploring their options in the coming months. This serves as a warning to Bottas and Guanyu, who need to significantly improve their performances to save their careers in F1.
With Bottas and Guanyu out of the race in Melbourne, the midfield teams had the opportunity to score their first points in the 58-lap event. The junior team took advantage of this opportunity, with the Japanese driver leading the way.
Bottas expressed his frustration during post-race interviews, as he missed the chance to score points. The Stake F1 team had a slow pit stop for the Finn, taking them out of contention and allowing Tsunoda and to move ahead in the standings.
Despite these setbacks, Sauber aims to challenge for points in the Japanese GP next month. Bottas has previously won in Suzuka and hopes to use his experience to score points for the Stake F1 team. The 2024 season is crucial for the 10-time Grand Prix winner.