Have Sauber and Audi already made a driver choice for 2025? Rumors are buzzing in the São Paulo paddock that Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto may join Nico Hülkenberg at Sauber in 2025. Sauber is one of the last teams to still have a seat available for 2025.
Ever since Sauber announced in April that Nico Hülkenberg will be joining the Swiss team next year, speculation has been rife about who will be the German’s teammate. Current Kick Sauber drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu were candidates, as were Mick Schumacher, Théo Pourchaire, Felipe Drugovich, and recently Franco Colapinto. It now appears that Sauber has made a decision. The choice has reportedly fallen on McLaren reserve driver Gabriel Bortoleto.
“The contract is reportedly already finalized and the announcement is imminent,” the German Auto, Motor und Sport even dares to report. “The team apparently did not want to finalize it during the Brazilian Grand Prix. That would have drawn too much attention and exposed Bortoleto to a media onslaught.”
If Bortoleto indeed joins Hülkenberg in 2025, he will follow in the footsteps of Brazilian drivers Emerson Fittipaldi, Ayrton Senna, and Rubens Barrichello. Bortoleto’s current employer McLaren will not prevent the young driver from entering Formula 1 through another team. This was confirmed by Stella in Friday’s press conference.
Who is Bortoleto?
The Brazilian driver, like Senna, hails from São Paulo, and is currently leading the Formula 2 championship. Bortoleto even got to stand on the top step of the podium during the Formula 2 race in Barcelona. Our columnist and regular podcast guest Jeroen Bleekemolen closely follows Formula 2 and believes that Bortoleto is by far the most talented driver currently competing in the junior rankings.
