Valtteri Bottas needs Toto Wolff bail-out as Sauber 'make decision' on new F1 signing

is reportedly heading for the F1 exit door with 's move for junior prospect Gabriel Bortoleto now a 'done deal'. For the team's incumbent driver, a reserve role at may be his only way to stay in F1.

The battle for Sauber's second seat has been an interesting one to follow this season with Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto and Mick Schumacher all considered options, as well as the incumbent duo of Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.

However, Bottas and Bortoleto have long been seen as the two frontrunners and, according to a report from German outlet , the latter's step-up from Formula Two to the F1 grid should be announced soon.

Bortoleto will arrive in F1 amid plenty of fanfare. The 20-year-old is the reigning Formula Three champion and currently leads the F2 standings by 4.5 points with two rounds remaining. If he follows through and becomes a back-to-back champion, he'll have replicated the success of George Russell and Oscar Piastri in recent years.

For Bottas, the options are now limited. He has teased a desire to follow in the footsteps of fellow F1 departees Marcus Ericsson, Romain Grosjean and Alexander Rossi and make the transition to .

However, while Bottas' impressive career accolades and commercial appeal make him an interesting proposition for IndyCar teams, there are only a handful of seats available. Only Juncos Hollinger Racing, Dale Coyne Racing and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing have vacant spots, and none of those outfits went to victory lane in 2024.

Instead, a return to Mercedes - albeit in a test and reserve role - may be on the cards. "Firstly, the priority is to stay as a race driver, that's what I want, and that's what I'm pushing for with Mattia [Binotto]," he said a few weeks ago.

"But, of course, as I don't have anything signed - we're in October - I've got to look at all the alternatives including going back to the Mercedes family. That's for sure one option and I would consider it but there's other options as well, as well as going back to my priority, which is to be a race driver even more."

Daniel Ricciardo showed taking a step back and staying on the peripheries of the F1 paddock can pay off and lead to a quickfire return to the series, but at 35 years of age, Bottas doesn't have much time to waste.