McLaren insists no closing determination has been made about Gabriel Bortoleto’s Method 1 future, amid rising indications that the Brazilian could possibly be poised to safe a cope with Sauber.
Bortoleto, who’s a part of McLaren’s younger driver programme, has impressed in F2 this season — and presently leads the championship with solely the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds remaining.
His sturdy type, off the again of successful the 2023 F3 championship, has thrust him into competition for a seat at Sauber, which has been pondering whether or not to go along with a teen for the long-term or follow an skilled driver like incumbent Valtteri Bottas.
Sources have indicated that Bortoleto is closing in on a deal, though it’s unclear if that is for subsequent season or for 2026 when the Sauber crew will formally turn out to be Audi.
For Bortoleto to be free to race for Sauber, he would should be launched from his McLaren younger driver contract.
Talking on the Brazilian Grand Prix, crew principal Andrea Stella reiterated that his squad would don’t have any hesitation in doing so.
It’s understood, nevertheless, that such a launch relies on Bortoleto having a agency race contract on the desk, reasonably than it being for a reserve or take a look at function.
Stella mentioned: “Having the likelihood to speak about Gabriel, I want to take this chance to say as soon as once more how good a piece he is been doing in junior classes, successful F3, main F2 on the first season.
“That is to guide into the truth that I feel it’s extremely, very regular and pure that Method 1 groups are serious about having Gabriel as a driver.
“By way of McLaren, McLaren is not going to cease the likelihood for Gabriel to drive Method 1. So conversations are ongoing and we’ll see what the state of affairs shall be for the longer term.”
Gabriel Bortoleto, Invicta Racing
Picture by: Shameem Fahath
Bortoleto has earned some followers inside the F1 paddock together with his driving this yr and three-time world champion Max Verstappen mentioned earlier this weekend that if he was Sauber he would decide to him straightaway.
“If I used to be Sauber, I might have signed him already,” mentioned Verstappen. “I imply, particularly if that is anyway for the longer term and ‘26, with the massive rule change.
“It is all the time good to get used to a crew already for a yr, make your errors right here and there, get built-in effectively, and perceive the automotive a bit. You all the time really feel way more ready and cozy whenever you then begin in ‘26.”
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