Pierre Gasly, from the Alpine F1 team, and his teammate Esteban Ocon will be parting ways at the end of 2024, leaving a vacancy at the Enstone-based team. It seems likely that Gasly will continue his partnership with Alpine, but who will join him as his teammate next season?
Valtteri Bottas has expressed his desire to extend his contract with Sauber, as the Hinwil-based team prepares for the arrival of Audi. However, Sauber is leaning towards a revised lineup in 2025, with Nico Hulkenberg already secured from Haas on a long-term contract.
Sauber Team Principal Alessandro Alunni Bravi revealed that Carlos Sainz, who is leaving Ferrari to make way for Lewis Hamilton, is the preferred choice to partner with Hulkenberg. Despite receiving a tempting offer from Audi, Sainz is also in discussions with Williams about a possible move in 2025.
Regardless of where he ends up, Bottas and his current teammate Zhou Guanyu are seen as backup options for Sauber, with Ocon, Gasly, or Yuki Tsunoda from RB being the main alternatives to Sainz at this time.
As a result, Bottas has been exploring various possibilities to continue his Formula 1 career, engaging in discussions with Williams. The Finnish driver has expressed his confidence, stating that he is almost certain (99%) to remain in the sport, and he has several options to secure his continuation.
Despite Sauber’s ongoing difficulties, which have prevented Bottas from scoring points this season, he has had a promising start to the current campaign. His speed has not diminished with age, as evidenced by his consistent superiority over Zhou in all eight races so far.
Bottas is also the most experienced contender available on the market, with an impressive 230 starts in Grand Prix races and counting. This includes five seasons of experience with Mercedes, a championship-winning team. His wealth of knowledge and expertise would be invaluable for Alpine as they strive to recover from a challenging start to the season with a revised car concept.
Since returning to Formula 1 full-time in 2016, the Renault Group, which owns Alpine, has failed to meet expectations and meet projected deadlines. This has resulted in a decline, with the team finishing as the slowest in 2024 due to a failure and an uncompetitive A524 chassis. With the upcoming regulatory changes in 2025 seen as an opportunity for Alpine to reverse its recent regression, it would be prudent for the team’s senior management to consider offsetting Ocon’s departure by bringing in Bottas. He would provide short-term stability and be open to committing to a long-term plan.
However, Bottas may face direct competition from his teammate at Sauber, Zhou, both on the track and in the driver market. Like Bottas, Zhou has revealed that his management team is in negotiations with potential suitors. However, there is less information available about his specific moves within the paddock.
Zhou stated in Monaco that they are monitoring several options and considering what is best for his future. It is crucial to start early in the driver market, and Zhou has entrusted this task to Graeme Lowdon. While Zhou focuses on his current responsibilities, discussions with different teams are already underway to determine which offers the best prospects and aligns with his desired future. Although decisions have not yet been made, they are patiently waiting to see which option seems most promising on paper.
Throughout the season, the Chinese driver has struggled to extract speed from the revamped Sauber C44 car. This has resulted in a challenging sequence of eight consecutive eliminations in Q1.
However, Zhou has a lucrative track record and would bring sponsor revenue that other candidates cannot match.
Speculations have circulated that Renault CEO Luca De Meo is considering discontinuing the Renault engine division and exploring options to find an alternative supplier for Alpine next season.
Renault has finalized an agreement with Geely, an automobile manufacturer located in Hangzhou, China, regarding a hybrid and combustion powertrain called ‘HORSE’.
According to Joe Saward, Geely has a tentative interest in expanding into F1 and its existing connections with Renault could facilitate a partnership that strengthens Zhou’s chances with Alpine.
Zhou serves as an ambassador for Zeekr, an electric car brand owned by Geely.
Furthermore, Zhou highlights the advantage of being a familiar face to long-time members of the Enstone team who have remained despite recent departures. He has been part of the team’s lineup as a prospect from 2019 to 2021, and F1 would be excited to see a Chinese driver continue amidst the return of the event this year.
However, while there are notable external candidates being linked, Alpine’s solution to Ocon’s departure may come from within the team.
Unlike Felipe Drugovich at Aston Martin, Doohan’s decision to step away from full-time racing after his Formula 2 career to take on the role of reserve driver could lead to the permanent F1 opportunity he desires.
The Australian has been integrated into the team since 2022, and his progression through the categories has seen him entrusted with an extensive testing program using older generation cars.
Renault/Alpine has supported a Driver Academy Program since 2011, but has never promoted an individual from within to a permanent race seat. The closest instance was when they intended to bring in Oscar Piastri as Fernando Alonso’s replacement for 2023, but the Australian was in negotiations with McLaren for a contract.
Doohan, son of motorcycle icon Mick, may not have the same impressive track record in lower racing categories as Piastri, but he showed promise during his time in F2. Over two seasons, he secured six victories and consistently finished among the top six in the Drivers’ Championship. This caught the attention of Alpine, who are considering him for a role in their F1 team based on his impressive performances in reserve and test sessions. While Doohan may not have the same spotlight as other potential candidates, he could be a suitable temporary solution for Alpine as they seek to improve their competitiveness and attract more attention. Alpine Team Principal Bruno Famin was recently seen in conversation with Doohan in Monaco, which may indicate that he is being seriously considered for a position. Furthermore, Famin did not rule out the possibility of Schumacher making an unexpected return to F1 with Alpine in 2025. Despite being released by Haas due to multiple accidents and the team’s preference for more experienced drivers, Schumacher has remained involved in the sport as a reserve driver for Mercedes and has also competed in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine. Schumacher showed impressive race pace in the WEC, with his teammate Nico Lapierre even describing him as the strongest among the Alpine drivers in Imola.
However, Schumacher does not intend to stay in motorsport for long and still aims for a return to F1.
“My goal and my dream is to drive in Formula 1. That has always been the case and always will be,” Schumacher told the German press.
“Therefore, we have to ensure that the pieces fit for me and that I end up with a seat. What I can do for this is simply give my best performance in WEC and also in Formula 1 and continue to do well for the team as a reserve driver and continue to have discussions.”
Famin described Schumacher as an “amazing” driver and his previous experience in F1 would give him a slight edge over Doohan.
The son of seven-time F1 champion Michael, Mick is confident that following the man who shares the record of titles with his father, Lewis Hamilton, and race winner George Russell, has taught him things that would make him more prepared to face a second stint if given the opportunity.
Although it may seem unlikely, Alpine would be unwise not to consider Tsunoda at least as a possible option in 2025.
The Japanese driver has been exceptional this season, with five points finishes in the first eight races, outshining his more established and favored teammate, Daniel Ricciardo.
But these achievements were not enough for Tsunoda to be considered as Max Verstappen’s partner at Red Bull, which did not please the team.
Tsunoda stated that his ultimate ambition is to earn that promotion, but also mentioned that he would be open to considering offers outside of Red Bull, and Alpine should be willing to test that claim.
The Honda-backed driver would be a suitable option for Alpine to solidify in the long term, and he also has a good relationship with Gasly, which would avoid the same internal conflict that has been in the news since Monaco.
Alpine stated that they intend to resolve their driver lineup for 2025 in the near future, so it won’t be long before we find out if Gasly will stay and who will be his teammate.
© 2024
Portugal makes history and wins the European Football Championship
In an exciting game, the Portuguese football team became champions of the European Football Championship. With a brilliant performance, the Portuguese team defeated the French team 1-0 in extra time and lifted the trophy for the first time in the country’s history.
The winning goal was scored by Éder, in the 109th minute of the second half of extra time. With a powerful shot from outside the box, the Portuguese forward hit the angle of the French goalkeeper, ensuring the historic victory for Portugal.
The match was played at the Stade de France in Paris and was attended by thousands of fans from both countries. The game was balanced and exciting, with chances for both teams. However, Portugal managed to stand out and win the coveted title.
With this victory, Portugal has become the new powerhouse of European football. The Portuguese team showed consistent football and determination throughout the competition, overcoming strong opponents and deservedly becoming champions.
Coach Fernando Santos was crucial to the success of the Portuguese team. With impeccable tactical work, he managed to assemble a solid and competitive team, capable of facing any opponent on equal terms.
The players were also key pieces in this achievement. Cristiano Ronaldo, the team’s captain, led the team masterfully and showed all his skill and experience. In addition to him, other players like Pepe, Nani, and Renato Sanches also stood out throughout the competition.
The conquest of the European Football Championship is a milestone in the history of Portuguese football. After years of waiting and disappointments, Portugal finally won the long-awaited title. Now, the Portuguese can celebrate and be proud of their team, which has proven to be one of the best in Europe.
Portugal wrote its name in the history of football and showed the world all its talent and passion for the sport. The victory in the European Football Championship is an achievement that will be forever marked in the memory of Portuguese fans. Congratulations, Portugal, for this great achievement!
