In an unexpected turn of events, Valtteri Bottas will not be on the 2025 Formula 1 grid, with Gabriel Bortoleto set to take his place in Sauber, causing a major shake-up in the line-up. The Swiss team – which will be transformed into Audi’s works team in the coming days – has confirmed that Bottas, along with Zhou Guanyu, will be leaving the team in 2025.
Sauber’s Shift Towards Youth Drivers
Sauber’s decision to let go of Bottas in favor of 20-year-old Bortoleto comes within months of uncertain thoughts on the future of the Finnish driver. Reports claimed that Bottas had settled the terms with the team and was ready to append his signature on a contract for the 2025 season but new team principal Mattia Binotto opted for a younger driver that already had a degree of experience than an old-hand. In the end, it was Bortoleto who was brought on board, joining Nico Hülkenberg in the clinched Sauber’s 2025 driver line up.
Over the years, Bottas who joined Sauber in 2022 has been instrumental to the telling up of the team on the hybrid age of the formula one. Recently with Audi’s impending F1 debut, the team is now planning to set foundations for long term growth, and Binotto’s bunch has drawn the conclusion that a young driver with Bortoleto’s potential would be more useful in the long run.
Bortoleto’s New Chapter Begins
The progress of Gabriel Bortoleto in racing has been quite astonishing within a short period of time. The 2023 Formula 3 champion, after signing with McLaren’s junior driver academy, has been outstanding in Formula 2, as she currently sits on the top of the standings in 2024. The same applies to Bortoleto, who is in McLaren’s driver development program, however, the organization has announced that it would not prevent him from advancing to F1 due to the presence of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in their already strong roster. Hence, McLaren has let go of Bortoleto allowing him to proceed to Sauber in the year 2025 sports season.
In a statement, McLaren stated, “Gabriel has been an excellent person to work with for a year, and everyone knows from the very beginning that it was no way a hindrance for Gabriel to look forward and this shows how far he has come and how good of a driver he is.”
As far as the Sauber team is concerned, it is yet another step in Bortoleto’s fascinating career in F1. In the press, the 20-year-old thanked everyone for helping him move to Audi’s motorsport division, stating that the transition is perhaps the most thrilling of any in the world of sports. There is a strong belief in the young Brazilian from Sauber, who has been contending against F2 elites such as Ollie Bearman and Franco Colapinto in 2024.
Sauber’s Strategy Going Forward
The option to hire Bortoleto was explained by Sauber chairman Gernot Dollner as fully fitting with the long term Audi strategy in the sport. “We are in the middle of a revolution in Formula 1, a new era where most of the young drivers burst onto the scene and straight away make history. In signing Gabriel Bortoleto, we’ve also signed one of these very few race winning prospects,” Dollner stated. “This alcomiles the presence of Audi in Formula 1 and the resolve to be in healthy competition in the sport in future.”
the team principal Mattia Binotto was also optimistic about Bortoleto’s talents noting that if given the chance, the young Brazilian has all the attributes of an F1 winner.
Bottas Off To New Pastures
Valtteri Bottas ends his era with the Sauber team. The 35-year-old is a seasoned campaigner in the frame having made his debut with Williams back in 2013 and has achieved 10 race victories whilst with Mercedes and while at Alfa Romeo (currently Sauber). It was only a few months back when Bottas was hoping to get another contract with Sauber but it is apparent that the team was looking the other way in terms of prospects.
Bottas, with great emotion, turned back to those years sailed with Sauber: “I have spent these past years with the team which has truly been a voyage of immense growth and challenges, as well as some wonderful and unforgettable moments. I appreciate the share of experiences, the trust and support I have received all along.”
Meanwhile, discussions have been held between Bottas and Mercedes over the possibility of coming back to the latter in the reserve driver position. Furthermore, he is adamant that he is not ready to walk away from any chances in F1 even if Sauber ceases to exist in his future plans.
Zhou Guanyu Out After Three Seasons
Zhou Guanyu, who has been part of Sauber since his first season in the F1 Championships in 2022, is also confirmed to be exiting the team after three seasons. In as much as he displayed some potential, Zhou never really stood a chance of keeping the seat for 2025. The Chinese driver paid respect to the team for their understanding, saying, “I want to thank the team for allowing me to participate in Formula 1.
What’s Next for Bottas and Zhou?
As both Bottas and Zhou are not continuing with Sauber, they both now find themselves in doubt about their futures in F1. Bottas is likely to look for alternatives such as a return to Mercedes, while Zhou will most probably have to turn to options not related to him being in F1. The turn of events for Sauber also comes as a major shift for the grid for the year 2025, as the team has to bring in new people for its prospects.
Losing Bottas also signals the loss of a nostalgic dissection in the history of its present F1 career but the prominence of other youngsters such as Bortoleto reveals another “behavior” of F1, which, in this case, is the growing obsession with winning the youth race in the sport.
