Sauber signs Bortoleto for 2025 F1 race seat ahead of Audi era

The F2 championship leader will make his F1 debut in 2025

Sauber has signed Gabriel Bortoleto to partner Nico Hulkenberg in the 2025 Formula 1 season, the veteran and rookie effectively teaming up in the future Audi squad.

Bortoleto had been courted by the Hinwil-based outfit for some time, with his ties to McLaren as an academy member the main obstacle to a deal.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella however made clear that he wouldn’t stand in his protege’s way if there were a chance for him to clinch a race drive.

Sauber therefore made the move for the 20-year-old Brazilian, having announced earlier on Wednesday that incumbents Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu were set to leave the team. 

“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 honour.

“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.”

Bortoleto has impressed in the last two years, winning the FIA F3 championship as a rookie in 2023. The Invicta Racing driver is now leading the Formula 2 standings with only two wins to his name but his top-six consistency proving crucial.

“Gabriel has already demonstrated in the junior categories that he has what it takes to be a winning driver,” Mattia Binotto, COO and CTO of Sauber Motorsport, pointed out. “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.”

Chairman of the Sauber Motorsport board Gernot Doellner added: “Led by Mattia, Audi's Formula 1 project is making great progress in many areas. The signing of the second driver is another milestone.

“We are currently witnessing a generational shift in Formula One, 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.”

Sauber is currently going through its first point-less Formula 1 season since 2014, with the team’s best result being Zhou’s 11th-place finish in the Bahrain season opener.