Sauber has confirmed Gabriel Bortoleto will drive for its Components 1 workforce in 2025 and past, with present drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu each set to depart the workforce on the finish of the season.
Nico Hulkenberg’s transfer to the workforce forward of its transition into Audi was confirmed earlier this 12 months, leaving only one seat out there at Sauber and the 2 present drivers dealing with competitors from elsewhere. Sauber has now confirmed Components 2 championship chief Gabriel Bortoleto will be a part of Hulkenberg on a multi-year deal, having first introduced the departures of Bottas and Zhou.
“This is among the most enjoyable initiatives in motorsport, if not in all of sports activities,” Bortoleto mentioned. “Becoming a member of a workforce that mixes the wealthy motorsport historical past of Sauber and Audi is a real honor. Past merely being a member, I purpose to develop with this bold mission and attain the head of motorsport.
“I’m extremely grateful for the chance given to me by the workforce and for the possibility to work alongside an skilled driver like Nico. Each packages have a confirmed monitor document of nurturing younger expertise, and I’m assured that collectively, we’ll write our personal success story.”
20-year-old Bortoleto provides Brazil its first full-time F1 driver since Felipe Massa in 2017, and Sauber boss Mattia Binotto says having Hulkenberg in place allowed the workforce to go for a rookie.
“Gabriel has already demonstrated within the junior classes that he has what it takes to be a successful driver,” Binotto mentioned. “We’re very happy that he’ll change into a workforce member of Sauber and Audi. Along with Gabriel, we’re on a journey in the direction of success, and we’ll evolve right into a unified power 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.”
Bortoleto was a part of McLaren’s driver growth program however his present workforce confirmed he can be launched in full on the finish of this season to affix Sauber.
“It has been a pleasure to work with Gabriel over the past 12 months and to have been in a position to contribute to his success and progress as a driver by way of the McLaren Driver Growth program,” McLaren mentioned in a press release. “Now we have a powerful driver line-up in Lando and Oscar, and subsequently we have now all the time been clear that we’d not stand in the way in which of a possibility for Gabriel to progress while we aren’t within the place to supply him a seat with McLaren.
“We look ahead to persevering with to help Gabriel in his marketing campaign for the 2024 FIA Components 2 title and want him all the most effective for his profession past F2.”
2023 F3 champion Bortoleto leads the F2 standings by 4.5 factors from Pink Bull junior Isack Hadjar, with two rounds of the season remaining in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
