Sauber has signed Gabriel Bortoleto to associate Nico Hulkenberg within the 2025 Method 1 season, the veteran and rookie successfully teaming up sooner or later Audi squad.
Bortoleto had been courted by the Hinwil-based outfit for a while, together with his ties to McLaren as an academy member the primary impediment to a deal.
McLaren staff principal Andrea Stella nevertheless made clear that he wouldn’t stand in his protege’s manner if there have been an opportunity for him to clinch a race drive.
Sauber subsequently made the transfer for the 20-year-old Brazilian, having introduced earlier on Wednesday that incumbents Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu had been set to depart the staff.
“This is without doubt one of the most fun initiatives in motorsport, if not in all of sports activities,” Bortoleto stated. “Becoming a member of a staff that mixes the wealthy motorsport historical past of Sauber and Audi is a real honour.
“Past merely being a member, I purpose to develop with this formidable undertaking and attain the head of motorsport. I’m extremely grateful for the chance given to me by the staff and for the possibility to work alongside an skilled driver like Nico.
“Each packages have a confirmed monitor report of nurturing younger expertise, and I’m assured that collectively, we are going to write our personal success story.”
Gabriel Bortoleto, Invicta Racing
Photograph by: Andrew Ferraro
Bortoleto has impressed within the final two years, successful the FIA F3 championship as a rookie in 2023. The Invicta Racing driver is now main the Method 2 standings with solely two wins to his identify however his top-six consistency proving essential.
“Gabriel has already demonstrated within the junior classes that he has what it takes to be a successful driver,” Mattia Binotto, COO and CTO of Sauber Motorsport, identified. “We’re very happy that he’ll change into a staff member of Sauber and Audi.
“Along with Gabriel, we’re on a journey in the direction of success, and we are going to evolve right into a unified drive to form a brand new period for Audi in motorsport. Nico and Gabriel signify the perfect mixture of expertise and youth, positioning us strongly for the longer term.”
Chairman of the Sauber Motorsport board Gernot Doellner added: “Led by Mattia, Audi’s Method 1 undertaking is making nice progress in lots of areas. The signing of the second driver is one other milestone.
“We’re at the moment witnessing a generational shift in Method One, with younger drivers instantly making an affect. By signing Gabriel Bortoleto, we have now secured certainly one of these prime abilities. His signing underscores Audi’s long-term technique and dedication to Method 1.”
Sauber is at the moment going by its first point-less Method 1 season since 2014, with the staff’s greatest consequence being Zhou’s Eleventh-place end within the Bahrain season opener.
