Rising Star Bortoleto on Brink of Securing Coveted Sauber F1 Seat for 2025 Season

Formula 2 title contender Gabriel Bortoleto has emerged as the frontrunner for the second Sauber seat in 2025, as the team considers pursuing a young driver strategy. The Brazilian driver, who clinched the FIA F3 title in 2023, has been making waves in his impressive F2 campaign, securing two feature race victories and currently holding second place in the standings. With only 10.5 points separating him from championship leader Isack Hadjar, and three events remaining in Baku, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, Bortoleto's performance has caught the attention of Sauber's management.

Sauber's Changing Perspective

Initially, it appeared that incumbent driver Valtteri Bottas was the favorite to retain his seat for the next season. However, Bortoleto's recent impressive victory in the F2 feature race at Monza has reportedly prompted Sauber's management to seriously consider the young Brazilian as a potential teammate for Nico Hulkenberg. This shift in focus aligns with the team's need to balance experience and youth in their driver lineup.

Evaluating the Options

New Audi CTO and COO Mattia Binotto recently highlighted the team's dilemma in choosing between an experienced driver and a young talent. Binotto emphasized the importance of considering both short-term and long-term objectives for the team's future success. The decision-making process involves carefully weighing the pros and cons of each option to find the best compromise for Sauber's goals.

McLaren's Potential Role

Pursuing Bortoleto would require Sauber to negotiate with McLaren, as the young driver is currently part of their development program. Sources suggest that McLaren may be willing to release or loan Bortoleto if an F1 seat opportunity arises elsewhere. This flexibility could pave the way for Bortoleto's potential move to Sauber, although McLaren has not officially confirmed this stance.

Implications for Valtteri Bottas

The growing interest in Bortoleto could spell trouble for Valtteri Bottas, who is seeking a contract renewal with Sauber for the upcoming season. Despite a challenging year with the team, Bottas had expressed optimism about his future prospects following Binotto's arrival. The Finnish driver believed that Binotto would recognize the value of his extensive experience in Formula 1.

A New Generation of F1 Drivers

If Bortoleto secures the Sauber seat, he would join a fresh wave of young talent entering Formula 1 in the coming season. Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes and Jack Doohan at Alpine are also set to make their F1 debuts, while Oliver Bearman is confirmed for a 2025 race seat at Haas. Bearman has already gained some F1 experience, having competed as a stand-in for Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia and replacing the banned Kevin Magnussen in Azerbaijan this weekend.