Fernando Alonso believes that Audi-owned Sauber has yet to make its final decision on who will fill the second driver seat for the 2025 season.
While Nico Hulkenberg is already confirmed for next year, the second seat remains open, despite reports suggesting Valtteri Bottas is close to securing a deal to stay with the team.
Williams boss James Vowles recently revealed that discussions are still ongoing with Audi about a potential loan deal for rookie Franco Colapinto.
Another name in the running is Gabriel Bortoleto, the current Formula 2 leader, who is managed by Alonso's A14 management company.
"Sauber has to make the decision," Alonso told motorsport-magazin.com. "Gabriel is really very promising, for everyone."
At 19 years old, Bortoleto is also contracted to McLaren's driver development program, but Alonso insists there won't be any issues if Audi wants to sign him.
"There are no problems with other teams in Formula 1. Everything can be adjusted," Alonso added.
Meanwhile, Bild reports that Mick Schumacher has been ruled out as a contender for the Audi-Sauber seat. Schumacher himself refrained from commenting on the rumors out of "respect for the parties involved."
"I don't have an answer to that yet, but of course the goal is still the same. I think it's just time that we need," Schumacher added at a kart event in Kerpen.
"Plan B has to be in the back of my mind, but at the moment we hope that plan A works and we're doing our best to make sure that happens."
Red Bull F1 consultant Dr. Helmut Marko also weighed in, dismissing rumors of Sebastian Vettel returning from retirement to complete an all-German lineup for Audi-Sauber.
"He's been out of the sport for too long and there are too many fast youngsters now," Marko told formel1.de.
"I haven't had any contact with him for a while. He's in an area with no mobile phones, where no planes go, somewhere in northern Europe. I haven't heard much from him in the last three months," the Austrian added.
