Sauber has signed Gabriel Bortoleto to associate Nico Hulkenberg within the 2025 System 1 season, the veteran and rookie successfully teaming up sooner or later Audi squad.
Bortoleto had been courted by the Hinwil-based outfit for a while, along with his ties to McLaren as an academy member the primary impediment to a deal.
McLaren group principal Andrea Stella nonetheless made clear that he wouldn’t stand in his protege’s approach if there have been an opportunity for him to clinch a race drive.
Sauber due to this fact made the transfer for the 20-year-old Brazilian, having introduced earlier on Wednesday that incumbents Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu were set to leave the team.
“This is among the most enjoyable initiatives in motorsport, if not in all of sports activities,” Bortoleto mentioned. “Becoming a member of a group that mixes the wealthy motorsport historical past of Sauber and Audi is a real honour.
“Past merely being a member, I intention to develop with this formidable venture and attain the top of motorsport. I’m extremely grateful for the chance given to me by the group and for the possibility to work alongside an skilled driver like Nico.
“Each applications have a confirmed observe report of nurturing younger expertise, and I’m assured that collectively, we are going to write our personal success story.”
Gabriel Bortoleto, Invicta Racing
Picture by: Andrew Ferraro
Bortoleto has impressed within the final two years, successful the FIA F3 championship as a rookie in 2023. The Invicta Racing driver is now main the System 2 standings with solely two wins to his identify however his top-six consistency proving essential.
“Gabriel has already demonstrated within the junior classes that he has what it takes to be a successful driver,” Mattia Binotto, COO and CTO of Sauber Motorsport, identified. “We’re more than happy that he’ll grow to be a group member of Sauber and Audi.
“Along with Gabriel, we’re on a journey in the direction of success, and we are going to evolve right into a unified power to form a brand new period for Audi in motorsport. Nico and Gabriel signify the best mixture of expertise and youth, positioning us strongly for the long run.”
Chairman of the Sauber Motorsport board Gernot Doellner added: “Led by Mattia, Audi’s System 1 venture is making nice progress in lots of areas. The signing of the second driver is one other milestone.
“We’re presently witnessing a generational shift in System One, with younger drivers instantly making an influence. By signing Gabriel Bortoleto, we have now secured certainly one of these prime abilities. His signing underscores Audi’s long-term technique and dedication to System 1.”
Sauber is presently going by means of its first point-less System 1 season since 2014, with the group’s greatest consequence being Zhou’s Eleventh-place end within the Bahrain season opener.