The 2024 Formula 1 driver’s market was one of the most frantic in recent memory with nearly every team in the paddock deciding to change at least one of their drivers.
By the time the 2025 F1 grid was confirmed, only McLaren and Aston Martin had decided to stick with their current pairing.
Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari set off a chain reaction that saw Carlos Sainz move to Williams and create plenty of speculation elsewhere.
The final team to confirm their line-up – before Red Bull’s dramatic change of heart of Sergio Perez’s future – was Sauber.
Last year was a disaster for the Swiss team and out of the 30 opportunities they had to score points in 2024, they only added to their tally once.
Zhou Guanyu’s eighth-place finish at the Qatar Grand Prix saved their blushes after he and teammate Valtteri Bottas struggled to get out of Q1 all year, let alone challenge the top 10.
Neither driver can be blamed for their performance with the car slower than its rivals on the grid until the final few races when Bottas managed to reach Q3 in Abu Dhabi.
However, by that point, it was too late and new Audi chief Mattia Binotto had overseen a complete change in their line-up for 2025, the year before the German manufacturing giants make their official F1 debut.
In an interview with AMuS, Binotto explained why he went with Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto to partner Nico Hulkenberg when Bottas made his feelings clear about wanting to stay at Sauber.
Mattia Binotto explains decision to sign Gabriel Bortoleto for Sauber over Valtteri Bottas
When Bortoleto was signed, Hulkenberg had already been confirmed by Binotto’s predecessor Andreas Seidl.
Binotto was asked why he opted for the Brazilian youngster and said: “There is no doubt about his talent. His results in Formula 3 and Formula 2 show that. He has great potential.
“The first thing was his attitude. He is very mature for his age and very determined. For him, it wasn’t about getting a place in Formula 1.
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“He gave us the feeling that he wants to be part of the project and wants to win with Audi at some point.
“He is still very young and that fits in with our philosophy of building our future with young people and investing in them.”
Bortoleto has been tipped as a future world champion but he’s unlikely to fulfil that at Sauber.
Simply avoiding being at the back of the grid has to be the youngster’s aim this season although his talent can’t be doubted after winning back-to-back F3 and F2 championships.
Mattia Binotto explains how Sauber have been getting Gabriel Bortoleto ready for F1
Before signing for Sauber, Bortoleto was on McLaren’s books but barely did any testing during his time in their academy.
Fernando Alonso organised Bortoleto’s McLaren move and will now be preparing to race against him in 2025.
Binotto was asked how he had helped Bortoleto get ready for his debut at the Australian Grand Prix and explained: “He had already completed the 1,000 kilometres permitted by the regulations in an older Formula 1 car. We had two TPC tests, one in Imola and the other in Barcelona.
“Then, of course, he drove the tyre test for Pirelli in Abu Dhabi last year, as well as on a film day. We used everything that was possible.
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“Nevertheless, of all the rookies he is probably the one with the lowest mileage. But what we’ve seen of him so far has impressed us.
“He is learning very quickly. He already feels much more comfortable in a Formula 1 car than he did before the 1,000 kilometres in the TPC tests.
“He also spends one day a week in the simulator. On top of that, there are lots of discussions with the engineers about set-up and things like energy management.”
Bortoleto will hope that he can take full advantage of the three practice sessions at the Australian Grand Prix to learn more about Sauber’s 2025 car.
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