After months of uncertainty, time is running out for Sauber to finalise their 2025 line-up. Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen are among the experienced drivers available in the market. However, new reports suggest that Gabriel Bortoleto is in Pole Position to join the Swiss team.
Bortoleto the favourite, but nothing confirmed
At this stage, making any guarantees about who will drive alongside Nico Hulkenberg in 2025 is almost impossible.
So many driver have been linked to Sauber in recent months, largely due to the team’s reluctance to make a commitment.
However, there are some names that have been consistently linked to a Sauber move. One of them is Gabriel Bortoleto, the McLaren junior who is currently leading the Formula 2 standings.
The Brazilian driver won last year’s Formula 3 campaign as a rookie – and is now course to claim the Formula 2 crown in his first attempt.
This is an accomplishment that few have accomplished, giving Bortoleto an exceptional record in the junior categories.
His epic drive from P22 to P1 in Italy earned him praise for Mattia Binotto, who described him as an exciting talent and leading candidate for 2025.
Sauber can afford to take risk in 2025
Ultimately, the main considerations that Sauber are looking at are youth and experience.
Gabriel Bortoleto is a long-term investment, with the Brazilian capable of developing into an established driver in F1.
Given the speed of Colapinto’s progression, it would not be a stretch to suggest that Bortoleto could acclimatise relatively soon.
In addition, Bortoleto could unlock significant sponsorship for the team – a factor that could be highly valued by Audi. The German manufacturer would undoubtedly welcome the commercial value that Bortoleto could bring.
Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas represents one of the safest pair of hands on the grid. The Finn is an experienced driver that can be trusted to deliver strong results in the right machinery – as he did at the beginning of 2022.
The question is whether Sauber view Bottas as the best option for the long-term.
According to German outlet AMuS, Gabriel Bortoleto is Sauber’s preferred option. Although nothing is confirmed, Bortoleto is now the favourite to drive for the Swiss team next season.
This would give Bortoleto a chance to adapt to F1 in what is expected to be a relatively uncompetitive car next season – giving him time to make mistakes before the pressure increases in 2026.
McLaren have already confirmed they will not prevent the 20-year-old from joining another team.
Andrea Stella’s team are unlikely to make any driver changes in the near future – meaning there is no space for Bortoleto.
This gives the Brazilian a clear path to Formula 1 – assuming that he can finalise an agreement with Sauber.
