Rising star Gabriel Bortoleto, currently leading the Formula 2 championship, is poised to make the leap to Formula 1 with Sauber in 2025. Sources indicate that the 20-year-old has agreed to terms with the Swiss team to become Nico Hulkenberg’s teammate. Sauber faced a tough decision between bringing in young talent or retaining the experienced Valtteri Bottas. Ultimately, they chose to invest in Bortoleto’s promising future.
Bortoleto’s Rising Career
Bortoleto’s presence at the Brazilian Grand Prix paddock this week hints that the final touches of his contract are still being worked out. However, insiders expect everything to be finalized by the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Despite being a part of McLaren’s junior programme since 2023, having won the F3 title last year, Bortoleto’s transition to Sauber seems imminent. McLaren had previously indicated that they would not obstruct Bortoleto’s move if he secured a solid race deal elsewhere.
Valtteri Bottas Faces Uncertain Future
With Bortoleto’s impending arrival, it appears Bottas’s tenure with Sauber is drawing to a close. The Finnish driver now faces limited options for remaining in F1. If he fails to secure a racing seat, one possibility could be a return to Mercedes as a reserve driver. Speaking at the Mexico Grand Prix, Bottas mentioned that his main goal remains to compete as a race driver, yet he remains open to other roles, including rejoining the Mercedes family.
The Brazilian Connection
Bortoleto’s addition to Sauber will mark the return of a full-time Brazilian driver to F1 since Felipe Massa’s retirement in 2017. Brazil has not had a regular F1 presence since Pietro Fittipaldi raced two grands prix for Haas in 2020, filling in for the injured Romain Grosjean.
