According to reports, Mattia Binotto, the new Chief Operating Officer of Sauber, is interested in recruiting Gabriel Bortoleto, a Formula 2 title contender and McLaren Development Driver, to join Nico Hulkenberg for the 2025 season.
Earlier this year, Andreas Seidl, Binotto’s predecessor, signed Hulkenberg to a multi-year contract in an effort to elevate Sauber to an F1 team worthy of the Audi name by 2026. However, the question of who will be Hulkenberg’s teammate remains unanswered.
Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, Sauber’s current drivers, are both out of contract for the next season. Their hopes of staying with the team were boosted when Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon opted to sign with Williams and Haas respectively.
Nevertheless, Italian outlet Formu1a.uno reports that Binotto has set his sights on Brazilian F2 rookie Bortoleto, who has been impressing in the junior single-seater formula with Invicta Racing.
Bortoleto, who won the Formula 3 title in his rookie season last year, currently sits in second place in the 2024 Formula 2 Drivers’ standings with 129 points, trailing championship leader Isack Hadjar by 36 points.
The 19-year-old Brazilian joined McLaren’s Driver Development Programme before his F2 campaign, which means Binotto would need to negotiate with Zak Brown, the CEO of the Woking-based squad, if he is serious about securing Bortoleto’s services.
However, Sauber has a history of recruiting drivers from rival academies, as Zhou was an Alpine Junior before joining the Formula 1 scene with the Hinwil-based team.
The opportunity to join Sauber before it becomes a full-works entry would be enticing for Bortoleto, as it is unlikely that he will find a Formula 1 seat with McLaren in the near future.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are both under long-term contracts with McLaren, so unless there are any surprises, they will remain with the team for several years.
When asked about his future within the McLaren set-up, Bortoleto stated, “In my case, McLaren has two young and extremely talented drivers, Oscar and Lando. They are incredibly strong and have shown great performances on track. I believe McLaren is currently the best team in F1, demonstrating significant improvement in recent races. As I have mentioned in previous interviews, I have complete trust in McLaren and my management team, A14, consisting of Fernando Alonso, Alberto, and Albert. I trust that we will make the best decision for my future. McLaren has plans for me, and they undoubtedly want to assist me in achieving my goals in the future. So, in terms of when I will secure a seat, whether it’s soon or in 10 years, I really don’t know. I leave that to the people who work on these matters. My job is to perform on the track and give my best.”
Photo – Gabriel Bortoleto Instagram
