Sauber has confirmed Gabriel Bortoleto will drive for its Components 1 group in 2025 and past, with present drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu each set to depart the group on the finish of the season.
Nico Hulkenberg’s transfer to the group 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 tasks in motorsport, if not in all of sports activities,” Bortoleto stated. “Becoming a member of a group that mixes the wealthy motorsport historical past of Sauber and Audi is a real honor. Past merely being a member, I intention to develop with this bold undertaking and attain the top of motorsport.
“I’m extremely grateful for the chance given to me by the group and for the possibility to work alongside an skilled driver like Nico. Each applications have a confirmed monitor file of nurturing younger expertise, and I’m assured that collectively, we are going to write our personal success story.”
20-year-old Bortoleto offers Brazil its first full-time F1 driver since Felipe Massa in 2017, and Sauber boss Mattia Binotto says having Hulkenberg in place allowed the group 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 stated. “We’re very happy that he’ll develop into a group member of Sauber and Audi. Along with Gabriel, we’re on a journey in 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 best mixture of expertise and youth, positioning us strongly for the long run.”
Bortoleto was a part of McLaren’s driver growth program however his present group 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 development as a driver by the McLaren Driver Growth program,” McLaren stated in a press release. “We now have a powerful driver line-up in Lando and Oscar, and subsequently we have now at all times been clear that we’d not stand in the way in which of a possibility for Gabriel to progress while we’re not 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 Purple Bull junior Isack Hadjar, with two rounds of the season remaining in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
