Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto will accomplice Nico Hulkenberg at Stake in 2025 because the staff bids farewell to Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou.
Hailing from Sao Paulo, Bortoleto started his racing profession on the age of six in karting and, by twelve, he had moved to Europe along with his household to pursue his Components One dream. He made a powerful impression upon graduating to Components 3 in 2023 by dominating his debut season and successful the championship, earlier than transferring to the Components 2, the place he’s main the standings with simply two rounds to go. Becoming a member of the long run Audi works staff now provides Bortoleto the chance to indicate his expertise on the highest stage of motorsport.
The staff, which already confirmed German driver Nico Hulkenberg for the upcoming season again in April, will now boast a balanced mixture of expertise and youth, because it prepares for the transition to the Audi manufacturing facility staff in 2026.
“Led by Mattia, Audi’s Components 1 undertaking is making nice progress in lots of areas,” stated Gernot Dollner, Chairman of the Board of Sauber Motorsport AG. “The signing of the second driver is one other milestone. We’re at present witnessing a generational shift in Components One, with younger drivers instantly making an influence. By signing Gabriel Bortoleto, we now have secured one in all these high skills. His signing underscores Audi’s long-term technique and dedication to Components One.”
“Gabriel has already demonstrated within the junior classes that he has what it takes to be a successful driver,” added staff boss Mattia Binotto. “We’re very happy that he’ll grow to be a staff member of Sauber and Audi. Along with Gabriel, we’re on a journey in direction of success, and we are going to evolve right into a unified pressure to form a brand new period for Audi in motorsport. Nico and Gabriel symbolize the best mixture of expertise and youth, positioning us strongly for the long run.”
“This is likely one of the most fun initiatives in motorsport, if not in all of sports activities,” stated Bortoleto. “Becoming a member of a staff that mixes the wealthy motorsport historical past of Sauber and Audi is a real honour. Past merely being a member, I goal to develop with this formidable undertaking and attain the top of motorsport. I am extremely grateful for the chance given to me by the staff and for the prospect to work alongside an skilled driver like Nico. Each packages have a confirmed observe document of nurturing younger expertise, and I’m assured that collectively, we are going to write our personal success story.”
The Group took the chance to thank the departing Bottas and Zhou.
“We lengthen our deepest gratitude to Valtteri for the previous three years collectively,” stated Binotto. “He has been the embodiment of professionalism, utilizing his huge expertise to assist the staff’s progress. Valtteri’s dedication and strategy have been invaluable throughout a pivotal time in our historical past, and the reminiscences of those years will stick with us for a very long time.
“In contemplating our driver line-up for the approaching seasons, Valtteri was unquestionably a key candidate. Together with his combating spirit, he ceaselessly pushed the automobile past its efficiency limits. Nevertheless, a call needed to be made. After open and constructive discussions, we mutually concluded that remaining situations couldn’t be met so we agreed that it’s time to half methods. Valtteri will at all times have an open door right here in Hinwil.”
“A scenario like that is by no means straightforward for anybody,” admitted the Finn. “However in any case the great and in-depth discussions we had prior to now weeks, we realised that the situations to develop this undertaking collectively weren’t met. These previous years with the staff have been an unimaginable journey, filled with progress, challenges, and unforgettable moments.
“I am grateful for the joint experiences in addition to the belief and assist I’ve felt each step of the best way. Although it is time to transfer on, I am going to at all times carry a bit of this staff with me, and I sit up for seeing what the long run holds for us each.”
“Following our dialogue with Zhou, we now have determined that our future lies somewhere else,” stated Binotto of the Chinese language driver. “We’re grateful to Zhou for the final three years, for the dedication and the starvation he has proven from the primary second he drove for us to immediately. Scoring factors on debut and serving to the staff to P6 in 2022 was an announcement of intent, however so was his contribution off observe and on the manufacturing facility.
“We wish to rejoice our journey along with three robust races to complete this season, and each the staff and Zhou are dedicated to giving all the things in Las Vegas, Doha and Abu Dhabi collectively.”
“I’ll depart the staff on the finish of the season,” stated Zhou, “however I’m absolutely dedicated to ending the season in fashion. I’m grateful to the staff for giving me an opportunity in Components One: this isn’t a straightforward sport for rookies, however the staff has allowed me to develop a lot over these three years.
“China, earlier this season, was doubtless a spotlight, however so many moments, each in public and behind the scenes, are what I’m going to recollect from the final three years. I am going to now give attention to the following step in my profession: I nonetheless have loads of struggle left in me and I’m eager to proceed progressing.”
