F2 star Bortoleto joins Sauber as Bottas and Zhou depart

Tipped to be a rising star in F1, the 20-year-old Brazilian currently leads the F2 drivers’ championship. He was part of McLaren’s driver development programme in preparation for his rookie season with Sauber, which will morph into Audi’s factory team for the 2026 season.

The team hailed Bortoleto as “one of the most promising talents for the future of Formula 1,” with a career that saw him karting from age six. By the tender age of 12, he’d moved to Europe to pursue a career in motorsport, commitment repaid with a dominant display in the 2023 F3 season, where he opened up a gap of more than 40 points from second place. 

Bortoleto currently leads the F2 championship with just two races to go. The team sees his youthful promise as the perfect match for the experience of 37-year-old Hülkenberg, who joined F1 in 2010 with Williams. 

Bortoleto said: “This is one of the most exciting projects in motorsport, if not in all of sports. Joining a team that combines the rich motorsport history of Sauber and Audi is a true honour. 

“Beyond simply being a member, I aim to grow with this ambitious project and reach the pinnacle of motorsport. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity given to me by the team and for the chance to work alongside an experienced driver like Nico. Both programs have a proven track record of nurturing young talent, and I am confident that together, we will write our own success story.”

Mattia Binotto, COO and CTO of Sauber Motorsport AG, commented: “Gabriel has already demonstrated in the junior categories that he has what it takes to be a winning driver. We are very pleased that he will become a team member of Sauber and Audi. Together with Gabriel, we are on a journey towards success, and we will evolve into a unified force to shape a new era for Audi in motorsport. Nico and Gabriel represent the ideal combination of experience and youth, positioning us strongly for the future.”

Bortoleto’s good news is bad news for Valtteri Bottas, who had hoped to lend his experience as Audi’s new factory team takes shape. Twice a championship runner-up with Mercedes and ten-time grand prix winner, Bottas entered F1 in 2013 with Williams. Speculation is rife that he could return as a reserve driver for Mercedes. 

Meanwhile, Zhou Guanyu’s F1 career never truly got off the ground, scoring just 12 career points over three seasons in the sport.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.