Sauber signs McLaren’s Brazilian sensation Gabriel Bortoleto for the 2025 F1 season

The Hinwil-based Sauber F1 team that will be Audi’s works outfit from 2026 has announced that Gabriel Bortoleto will complete their driver line-up to partner Nico Hulkenberg.

The Hinwil-based Sauber F1 team that will be Audi’s works outfit from 2026 has announced earlier today that Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will leave the Swiss team at the end of the season.

After leaving Mercedes at the end of the 2021 season, Valtteri Bottas joined Sauber to partner Formula One’s first Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu. The Finnish and Chinese driver have been team mates for the last three years, but they have endured a difficult campaign in 2024 with the squad still pointless after 21 race weekends.

Sauber that is set to become Audi’s works outfit in 2026 has already announced the appointment of Nico Hulkenberg, but the Bottas and Zhou have been in contention for the second seat.

However, the Hinwil-based organisation has now confirmed that both drivers will depart from Sauber at the end of the season. It is believed that Bottas will be now pursuing a test driver role at his former team Mercedes.

Audi and Sauber Motorsport AG have now confirmed that Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto will complete the team’s 2025 F1 pairing alongside Nico Hülkenberg.

Hailing from São Paulo, Bortoleto began his racing career at the age of six in karting and, by twelve, he had moved to Europe with his family to pursue his Formula One dream.

He made a strong impression upon graduating to FIA Formula 3 in 2023 by dominating his debut season and winning the Championship, before moving to the FIA Formula 2 Championship, where he is leading the standings with just two rounds to go. Joining the future Audi works team now gives Bortoleto the opportunity to show his talent at the highest level of motorsport.

The team, which already confirmed German driver Nico Hülkenberg as part of the team for the upcoming season back in April, will now boast a balanced mix of experience and youth, as it prepares for the transition to the Audi F1 factory team in 2026.

Commenting on the announcement, Chairman of the Board of Sauber Motorsport AG Gernot Döllner noted: “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 One.”

Speaking of Sauber’s 2025 F1 drive line-up, Sauber’s COO and CTO Mattia Binotto said: “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.”

Commenting on the announcement, Gabriel Bortoleto added: “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.”