Sauber has signed Gabriel Bortoletto to partner Nico Hulkenberg for the 2025 Formula 1 season, with the veteran and rookie effectively teaming up in the future Audi team.
Bortoletto had been wooed by the Henwell-based team for some time, with his relationships with McLaren as an academy member the main obstacle to a deal.
But McLaren team principal Andrea Stella made it clear that he would not stand in his protégé’s way if there was a chance for him to snatch the race lead.
Sauber has therefore made a move for the 20-year-old Brazilian, after announcing earlier on Wednesday that incumbents Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu were set to leave the team.
“This is one of the most exciting projects in motorsport, if not all of them,” Bortoletto said. “Joining a team that combines the rich motorsport history of Sauber and Audi is a true honour.
“Beyond just being a member, I aim to grow through this ambitious project and reach the pinnacle of motorsport. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity the team has given me and for the opportunity 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.”
Gabriel Bortoletto, Invicta Racing
Photography: Andrew Ferraro
Bortoletto has impressed in the past two years, winning the FIA F3 Championship as a rookie in 2023. The Invicta Racing driver now leads the F2 standings with just two wins to his name, but his consistency in the top six has proven crucial.
“Gabriel has already proven in the junior categories that he has what it takes to be a winning driver,” noted Mattia Binotto, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer of Sauber Motorsport. “We are very happy that he will become a member of the Sauber and Audi teams.
“Together with Gabriel, we are on a journey towards success, and will develop into a united force to shape a new era for Audi in motorsport. Nico and Gabriel represent the perfect combination of experience and youth, positioning us firmly for the future.
Sauber Motorsport Chairman Gernot Dollner added: “Under Mattia’s leadership, the Audi Formula 1 project is making significant progress in many areas. The signature of the second driver is another milestone.
“We are currently witnessing a generational shift in Formula 1, where young drivers are making an immediate impact. In signing Gabriel Bortoletto, we have acquired one of the best such talents. His signing underscores Audi’s long-term strategy and commitment to Formula 1.”
The Sauber team is currently in its first non-points season in Formula 1 since 2014, and the team’s best result was an eleventh place finish at the Bahrain season opener.
