F1: Sauber signs 2025 Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto

Gabriel Bortoleto has secured a coveted F1 seat at Sauber for the 2025 season. The 20-year-old Brazilian driver, who won the Formula 3 championship and currently leads the Formula 2 standings, will team up with experienced driver Nico Hulkenberg at Hinwil Racing. Bortoletto’s promotion marks a major step in his burgeoning career, making him the first Brazilian driver to compete in F1 since Felipe Massa in 2017. The move comes as Sauber prepares for a takeover by Audi in 2026, marking a new era for the team. To facilitate Bortoleto’s F1 debut, McLaren will release the talented young driver. After this signing is completed, there will be only one seat left for the 2025 season, which is Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri.

Mattia Binotto, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technical Officer of Sauber Motorsport, said: “Gabriel has proven in the junior class that he has what it takes to be a winning driver. We are delighted that he has As team members for Sauber and Audi, together with Gabriel we will develop into a united force that will shape a new era in Audi motorsport. Nico and Gabriel represent the combination of experience and success. The combination of young ideals has laid a solid foundation for our future.

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Gabriel Bortoleto said: “This is one of the most exciting projects in motorsport, if not all sports. Joining a team that combines the rich motorsport history of Sauber and Audi The team is a real privilege and apart from being a member, my goal is to grow with this ambitious project and reach the top of motorsport. I am very grateful for the opportunity the team has given me and to work with people like Nico. The opportunity for experienced riders like this to work together. Both programs have a strong track record in developing young talent and I am confident that together we will write our own success story.

Gabriel Bortoleto will become the next Brazilian star to grace Formula 1. The talented young driver will make his F1 debut in 2025, marking the return of a full-time Brazilian driver to the sport since Felipe Massa retired in 2017.

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Bortoletto’s signing with Sauber has a major impact on the team’s 2025 lineup. Current drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will be absent next year as the team looks to improve performance with a new driver combination.

Bottas is reportedly being considered as Mercedes’ reserve driver, with the futures of both drivers still uncertain. As Bortoletto prepares to embark on his F1 journey, fans are eagerly anticipating his impact on the sport.