Exclusive: Stake F1 makes decision on Hulkenberg team-mate for 2025

Valtteri Bottas is expected to be confirmed as a Stake F1 driver for next season, RacingNews365 understands.

Bottas' future has been up in the air for the past months after the F1 team opted to make Nico Hulkenberg one of its drivers for 2025 and beyond ahead of the organisation transitioning to Audi in 2026.

The German manufacturing giant will make its debut in F1 that year after being lured to the sport by new power unit regulations.

Hulkenberg was handed a drive whilst Andreas Seidl, then CEO of Audi's F1 operations and the former team principal of McLaren, was in charge.

Over time, numerous names have been mentioned with the second seat, including current incumbents Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.

Young guns passed over for Bottas

To further complicate the picture, it was announced two months ago that Seidl would be leaving, with former Ferrari team principal, Mattia Binotto stepping in as his replacement as chief operating and chief technical officer.

Since Binotto took charge, further names have emerged as possibilities, including current F2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto, and Franco Colapinto, who has stepped in at Williams for the rest of this season after the team axed Logan Sargeant.

Binotto, however, is now set to go with the experience of 10-time grand prix winner Bottas, who is 22nd in a 20-driver championship due to what has been a wretched season for the point-less Sauber team, known as Stake this year.

It is understood Bottas will only be handed a one-year contract with no option, extending his F1 career to a 14th season.

The decision by Binotto affords him time to stamp his mark on the current Sauber organisation before making a definitive call on who will partner Hulkenberg in the new Audi era.