Strong F1 rookie showings helped persuade Sauber to fast-track Bortoleto

Sauber was going to sign Gabriel Bortoleto for the Audi project in 2026 regardless of if he raced for the team in 2025, according to Mattia Binotto, but the team’s COO and CTO says the timing was partly reinforced by the strong performance of …

Sauber was going to sign Gabriel Bortoleto for the Audi project in 2026 regardless of if he raced for the team in 2025, according to Mattia Binotto, but the team’s COO and CTO says the timing was partly reinforced by the strong performance of Formula 1 rookies this year.

Bortoleto (pictured above), who is currently leading the Formula 2 championship standings, was announced on Wednesday as joining Nico Hulkenberg at Stake next season, before the Sauber-run team becomes Audi the following year for the start of new regulations. Hulkenberg and the Brazilian rookie will replace the current pairing of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, and while Binotto says the recent strong showings by the likes of Oliver Bearman have not really surprised him, they have boosted confidence in the ability of newcomers to succeed straight away in F1.

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“I know how great some of the young drivers are. I know Ollie [Bearman] very well because of my past experience — he was part of our driver academy [at Ferrari] at the time,” said Binotto, who served as Ferrari F1 team principal from 2019-’22. “I knew that Ollie could do very well in F1 and that was not a surprise to me, to see how well he is performing today.

“I think, yes, they are all doing very well, and that’s great. It’s great for F1. But I trust them all — I know they can do well, and I don’t think that I was waiting to see them doing well to make a decision.

“I followed Gabriel’s career, certainly even more intensively in the last weeks and months. I saw him racing so well, being impressed by the speed, the potential, but also by this capacity to first develop and improve. I think he is one of the most talented and high-potential drivers we’ve got as rookies, and for Audi, that was a no-brainer — go for it.

“So, we would have gone for Gabriel — that would have been our choice anyway. The second question we were asking ourselves was should it be straight away in ’25 or should we give him some time first to develop and then maybe postpone to ’26?

“But finally, yes, also seeing young drivers doing well in F1 gave me more confidence with the fact that Gabriel can do very well from the very start, and that if any, that has been the convincing factor. Not of the overall choice for a young, interesting young driver for Audi — [for that] journey and project it is important and essential — but more how soon could that maybe be happening; and again, I am convinced he will do well from the very start.”

Bortoleto is set to join Bearman, Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan and Liam Lawson as rookies tackling their first full seasons in F1 next year, while Franco Colapinto has also been linked with a seat in the Red Bull setup.

Audi backs Bortoleto due to ‘generational shift in F1’

Audi says young drivers performing at a high level as rookies is marking “a general shift in Formula 1” that persuaded it to back Gabriel Bortoleto for a race seat with its F1 partner, Sauber. Bortoleto has been announced as Nico Hulkenberg’s …

Audi says young drivers performing at a high level as rookies is marking “a general shift in Formula 1” that persuaded it to back Gabriel Bortoleto for a race seat with its F1 partner, Sauber.

Bortoleto has been announced as Nico Hulkenberg’s teammate at Sauber in 2025, for the final season before it completes its transition into the Audi works team. The 20-year-old won last season’s Formula 3 championship and is leading the F2 standings this year, in which fellow F2 drivers Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto have shown strongly on their F1 debuts. Audi CEO Gernot Dollner pointed to their example in explaining his company’s backing of the new generation.

“Led by Mattia [Binotto , chief technical officer], Audi’s Formula 1 project is making great progress in many areas,” Dollner said. “The signing of the second driver is another milestone. We are currently witnessing a generational shift in Formula 1, with young drivers immediately making an impact. By signing Gabriel Bortoleto, we have secured one of these top talents. His signing underscores Audi’s long-term strategy and commitment to Formula 1.”

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The choice of Bortoleto means current drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will both leave the team at the end of the season, and Sauber COO and Binotto thanked both for their commitment over the past three years.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to Valtteri for the past three years together,” Binotto said. “He has been the embodiment of professionalism, using his vast experience to support the team’s growth. Valtteri’s dedication and approach have been invaluable during a pivotal time in our history, and the memories of these years will stay with us for a long time.

“In considering our driver line-up for the coming seasons, Valtteri was unquestionably a key candidate. With his fighting spirit, he frequently pushed the car beyond its performance limits. However, a decision had to be made. After open and constructive discussions, we mutually concluded that final conditions could not be met so we agreed that it is time to part ways. Valtteri will always have an open door here in Hinwil.

“The last three years have seen our team grow significantly on and off the track, and both Valtteri and Zhou have played a big role in this progression. At this time, however, following our discussion with Zhou, we have decided that our future lies in different places.

“We are grateful to Zhou for the last three years, for the commitment and the hunger he has shown from the first moment he drove for us to today. Scoring points on debut and helping the team to P6 in 2022 was a statement of intent, but so was his contribution off track and at the factory.

“We want to celebrate our journey together with three strong races to finish this season, and both the team and Zhou are committed to giving everything in Las Vegas, Doha and Abu Dhabi together.”

Sauber confirms Bortoleto for 2025 as Bottas and Zhou depart

Sauber has confirmed Gabriel Bortoleto will drive for its Formula 1 team in 2025 and beyond, with current drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu both set to leave the team at the end of the season. Nico Hulkenberg’s move to the team ahead of its …

Sauber has confirmed Gabriel Bortoleto will drive for its Formula 1 team in 2025 and beyond, with current drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu both set to leave the team at the end of the season.

Nico Hulkenberg’s move to the team ahead of its transition into Audi was confirmed earlier this year, leaving just one seat available at Sauber and the two current drivers facing competition from elsewhere. Sauber has now confirmed Formula 2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto will join Hulkenberg on a multi-year deal, having first announced the departures of Bottas and Zhou.

“This is one of the most exciting projects in motorsport, if not in all of sports,” Bortoleto said. “Joining a team that combines the rich motorsport history of Sauber and Audi is a true honor. Beyond simply being a member, I aim to grow with this ambitious project and reach the pinnacle of motorsport.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity given to me by the team and for the chance to work alongside an experienced driver like Nico. Both programs have a proven track record of nurturing young talent, and I am confident that together, we will write our own success story.”

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20-year-old Bortoleto gives Brazil its first full-time F1 driver since Felipe Massa in 2017, and Sauber boss Mattia Binotto says having Hulkenberg in place allowed the team to go for a rookie.

“Gabriel has already demonstrated in the junior categories that he has what it takes to be a winning driver,” Binotto said. “We are very pleased that he will become a team member of Sauber and Audi. Together with Gabriel, we are on a journey towards success, and we will evolve into a unified force to shape a new era for Audi in motorsport. Nico and Gabriel represent the ideal combination of experience and youth, positioning us strongly for the future.”

Bortoleto was part of McLaren’s driver development program but his current team confirmed he would be released in full at the end of this season to join Sauber.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Gabriel over the last year and to have been able to contribute to his success and growth as a driver through the McLaren Driver Development program,” McLaren said in a statement. “We have a strong driver line-up in Lando and Oscar, and therefore we have always been clear that we would not stand in the way of an opportunity for Gabriel to progress whilst we are not in the position to offer him a seat with McLaren.

“We look forward to continuing to support Gabriel in his campaign for the 2024 FIA Formula 2 title and wish him all the best for his career beyond F2.”

2023 F3 champion Bortoleto leads the F2 standings by 4.5 points from Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar, with two rounds of the season remaining in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.