Driver lineup completed
Moments after revealing that Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will be leaving the team at the end of the ongoing Formula One season, Swiss team Sauber have announced that Brazilian racer Gabriel Bortoleto will be the one to fill up the second seat for the team for the 2025 season, partnering Nico Hülkenberg.
The 20-year old Brazilian moved to Formula 3 last year and won the championship in his debut season before moving to Formula 2, earlier this year and is currently the championship leader. The Brazilian now joins the Audi works team and will partner the veteran Hülkenberg, to round off the driver lineup and will have a season of experience under his belt before the team moves to become the Audi F1 factory team in 2026.
Bortoleto was also a member of the McLaren Driver Programme, which he will be released from at the end of the 2024 season following a statement released by McLaren.
Mattia Binotto, COO & CTO, Sauber Motorsport AG, commented,
“Gabriel has already demonstrated in the junior categories that he has what it takes to be a winning driver.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.”
Gabriel Bortoleto, said,
“This is one of the most exciting projects in motorsport, if not in all of sports. 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.”
Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Sauber Motorsport AG, 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.”
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