Bottas and Zhou to depart Sauber
Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will leave Sauber and be replaced by Niko Hulkenberg and newcomer Gabriel Bortoleto in the final season before Audi takes over the team.
Bortoleto is the current championship leader in F2 and becomes the first full time Brazilian to grace the F1 grid since Felipe Massa, signing a multi-year deal.
Bottas and Zhou have had a difficult season in 2024, remaining pointless after 21 races and struggling to compete, despite three years as a driver partnership.
Zhou made history when he joined Sauber, becoming the first Chinese driver in Formula 1 and finally managed to compete in his first home Grand Prix this year, narrowly missing out on points in the sprint race.
Bottas: “A situation like this is never easy for anyone. But after all the good and in-depth discussions we had in the past weeks, we realised that the conditions to grow this project were not met. These past years with the team have been an incredible journey, full of growth, challenges and unforgettable moments. I’m grateful for the joint experiences as well as the trust and support I’ve felt every step of the way. Though it’s time to move on, I’ll always carry a piece of this team with me, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for us both.”
Zhou: “I will leave the team at the end of the season, but I am fully committed to finishing the season in style. I am grateful to the team for giving me a chance in Formula 1: this is not an easy sport for rookies, but the team has allowed me to grow so much over these three years. China, earlier this season, was without a doubt a highlight, but so many moments, both in public and behind the scenes, are what I am going to remember from the last three years. I’ll now focus on the next step in my career: I still have plenty of fight left in me and I am keen to continue progressing.”
Who is Gabriel Bortoleto?
Having started karting in Sao Paulo at the age of six, Bortoleto then moved to Europe at the age of 12 to pursue his Formula 1 dream. After periods of racing in the Italian F4, Formula Regional Series’ and the Stock Car Pro Series, the Brazilian driver then made the step up to Formula 3 in 2023, where he won the championship with two wins and six podium finishes in 18 races.
This led to an instant promotion to Formula 2, where he is currently competing for Invicta Racing, and leads the drivers’ championship with two race weekends remaining.
Bortoleto: “This is one of the most exciting projects in motorsport, if not 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.”
The Formula 1 season continues with the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Sunday 24 November.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Sauber