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Sauber’s Next Move? Felipe Drugovich Emerges as Top Contender for 2025 Reserve Role Amid Intense F1 Shakeup

Carl Smith by Carl Smith
January 29, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Sauber’s Next Move? Felipe Drugovich Emerges as Top Contender for 2025 Reserve Role Amid Intense F1 Shakeup

The Formula 1 chessboard for 2025 is already in motion, and one name making serious waves is Felipe Drugovich. The Formula 2 champion-turned-Aston Martin reserve driver is reportedly on Sauber’s radar for a key reserve driver position next season, according to Swiss-German outlet Blick.

With Sauber preparing for its transformation into Audi’s works team, the squad is carefully evaluating its driver pool, and Drugovich is now a serious contender for the role. But he’s not the only one—Antonio Giovinazzi and even Zhou Guanyu are also in the mix for a crucial support role in the shifting F1 landscape.

Drugovich’s career crossroads: Is Aston Martin holding him back?

Since dominating the F2 championship in 2022, Drugovich has been stuck in F1’s reserve purgatory, with only testing and FP1 appearances to show for his talents. The Brazilian was the first driver enlisted into Aston Martin’s Driver Development Program, yet with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll locked in for 2025, his path to a full-time seat remains completely blocked.

While Aston Martin has confirmed his continued reserve status for next year, the possibility of switching to a rival team with clearer long-term prospects could be an opportunity too tempting to ignore.

That’s where Sauber’s interest comes in. With Audi’s F1 project ramping up, securing a young, promising talent like Drugovich for their 2025 reserve role could serve as a stepping stone for a full-time seat when Audi officially takes over in 2026.

Sauber’s shortlist: Giovinazzi vs. Drugovich vs. Zhou?

However, Drugovich isn’t the only driver in contention.

  • Antonio Giovinazzi, who last raced in F1 with Alfa Romeo from 2019 to 2021, is also being seriously considered. Since leaving F1, he has found massive success in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Ferrari, even winning the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023.
  • Oliver Bearman, Ferrari’s next big hope, is expected to split reserve duties at Ferrari with Giovinazzi, meaning Giovinazzi could be free for Sauber’s role—if he wants it.
  • Zhou Guanyu, the former Sauber driver who was dropped alongside Valtteri Bottas for 2025, is still chasing an F1 comeback and has multiple offers on the table. Reports suggest he could take a reserve role with Ferrari, which might see him become a key figure for General Motors’ Cadillac project in 2026.

Zhou’s next move: Ferrari, Cadillac, or something bigger?

Zhou is playing the long game, waiting for the right opportunity rather than rushing into a short-term deal.

“We already spoke to some teams before the Sauber exit announcement, but after that, more teams approached us,” Zhou admitted. “There’s no rush to make a decision because I need to be in a team that gives me a real shot at a race seat again.”

A potential partnership with Ferrari could see Zhou take a reserve role in 2025, with Cadillac—set to enter F1 in 2026—keeping an eye on him for the long run. With the American manufacturer set to initially source Ferrari power units and gearboxes, a Zhou-Ferrari alliance could lead to a full-time seat with Cadillac when the new regulations kick in.

What happens next?

With Sauber, Ferrari, and Cadillac all shuffling their driver rosters, the reserve driver market is suddenly more competitive than ever.

  • If Sauber locks in Drugovich, it could be a clear indication that Audi is grooming him for a 2026 race seat.
  • If Giovinazzi stays at Ferrari, then Drugovich’s chances of landing at Sauber increase significantly.
  • If Zhou commits to Ferrari, he could emerge as a long-term asset for Cadillac, with a potential return to the grid in 2026.

One thing is clear: the battle for F1’s reserve driver spots is no longer just a backup plan—it’s a crucial step toward securing a future race seat.

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