Gabriel Bortoleto, a young Brazilian driver supported by Fernando Alonso’s driver management company, has been making waves in the motorsport world. After a dominating karting career and a rapid rise through the junior formulas, Bortoleto is set to join Sauber in F1 for 2025. He’s a rising star with the potential to make a big impact in the pinnacle of motorsport.
Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will be leaving Sauber at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Nico Hulkenberg has already been confirmed for a seat in 2025, with F2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto being the leading contender for the second seat.
Valtteri Bottas, the experienced Formula One driver, expressed his confidence in his ability to secure a seat with Sauber despite facing competition from younger drivers. While acknowledging the pressure of a potential team change, Bottas believes he is the best fit for the team’s future, placing his trust in new Sauber boss Mattia Binotto’s decision-making.
Williams Racing boss James Vowles has expressed support for Franco Colapinto, the team’s Argentine rookie, and indicated that Williams would be open to discussions with Sauber regarding a potential race seat for Colapinto next season. The Swiss-based team, which will become Audi’s factory team in 2026, is yet to confirm their second driver for next season, with Colapinto among the contenders.
Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Adrian Newey’s reported decision to leave Red Bull raises questions about Max Verstappen’s future, while Nico Hulkenberg’s move to Sauber stirs up the driver market. Ferrari faces a growing on-track battle between Leclerc and Sainz, and Verstappen eyes more history amid Mercedes’ struggles. The Sprint format and team upgrades add to the unpredictability of the weekend in Miami.
Chinese Formula One driver Zhou Guanyu’s future with Sauber is in jeopardy following reports that Nico Hulkenberg is set to sign with the team once his Haas contract expires. According to Sport1, Hulkenberg has been offered a three-year contract, leaving Zhou in a precarious position despite his desire for a long-term deal. Rumors also persist about Carlos Sainz’s potential departure from Ferrari to Sauber. With 14 drivers without fixed contracts for next year, Sauber team chief Alessandro Alunni Bravi remains noncommittal on the futures of Zhou and Valtteri Bottas.
Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas has faced a string of unfortunate events, including DNFs and costly pit stop errors. This has prevented him from scoring points and has contributed to the team’s overall struggles. Red Bull, on the other hand, has showcased exceptional pit crew performance, providing a striking contrast to Sauber’s ongoing issues.
