Kick Sauber has announced the signing of F2 star Gabriel Bortoleto, who will drive for the team from 2025 alongside Nico Hulkenberg. The decision has left Sauber’s current drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, looking for other options to allow them to remain in the F1 paddock in the new season.
Why has Sauber chosen to sign Gabriel Bortoleto?
Gabriel Bortoleto is an up-and-coming 20-year-old who has competed in various feeder series in recent years. Following an impressive championship campaign in the 2023 Formula 3 season, in which he claimed the title with a lead of 45 points, the Brazilian is close to claiming victory in Formula 2 this year.
With just two races left in the 2024 F2 season, Bortoleto’s closest competitor is Isaac Hadjar who he is currently ahead of in the standings by just four and a half points. In his most recent victory in Monza, he claimed victory after fighting through the grid from P22.
These two will both be on the grid next year, one a soon-to-be 4-time world champion and the other a rookie.
An incredible photo of Max Verstappen and Gabriel Bortoleto as a child 👶😅
[via @SCUDERIAFEMBOY]#F1 #Formula1 pic.twitter.com/CCUmTlnQCm
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) November 6, 2024
The young driver has made an excellent impression on F1 through his feeder series success. Mattia Binnoto, who is set to become Team Principal for Sauber in 2025, has expressed his enthusiasm towards Bortoleto becoming a driver for the team, saying: “he has what it takes to be a winning driver”.
Bortoleto has also received praise from current F1 driver, Max Verstappen. In the driver’s press conference ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last week, the three-time world champion was asked about the young F2 driver potentially signing for Sauber, to which he replied: “I would have signed him already”.
The youngster has briefly had some time in an F1 car in recent months by participating in a test for McLaren at the Red Bull Ring last September. He drove the MCL36 that was previously used in 2022, which allowed him to promote his talent to the iconic team.
Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas’ options for 2025
Kick Sauber has had a challenging time across the 2024 season. Both Bottas and Zhou have admitted that they have struggled to gain momentum and points this year. Each driver is yet to earn any points in the driver’s championship, which in turn means that Sauber is the only team not to have any points in the constructors’ standings either. As a result, the Swiss team is facing a significant blow to their budgets for next year.
While Kick Sauber is not set to become Audi until 2026, the team has chosen to change their driver lineup for next year. Therefore, current Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg will be joining the team along with the young Gabriel Bortoleto in 2025. As a result, Bottas and Ghanyu are forced to evaluate the options that would allow them to remain in the F1 paddock.
Although Zhou has yet to reveal his plans, Bottas has already been linked to a potential return to his former team, Mercedes, as a reserve driver. The Finnish driver replaced former world champion Nico Rosberg in 2017, where he claimed a total of 10 wins throughout his time with the team. Ultimately, Valterri chose to sign with Sauber for the 2022 season and was in turn replaced by current Mercedes driver George Russell.
