- The Sauber F1 team will become Audi’s factory team in 2026
- Sauber drops current drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu
- Replacements named as Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg
Sauber’s Formula 1 team will have a new pair of drivers on the grid next season, ahead of a move to Audi’s factory team in 2026.
The struggling Swiss team announced on Wednesday that it would drop its current drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu end of 2024.
The announcement coincided with news about the signature of Gabriel Bortoleto for the 2025 season. Bortoleto, the first Brazilian in F1 since Felipe Massa retired in 2017, currently leads the F2 championship, which has two rounds remaining.
The talented 20-year-old has been part of McLaren’s driver development program since 2023 and is the reigning F3 champion. In a statement, McLaren said it is happy with current drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastro, and that it will not stand in the way of an opportunity for Bortoleto to drive with another team.
Gabriel Bortoleto – Photo via Sauber
Sauber announced this earlier in April German F1 veteran Nico Hülkenberg would drive for the team in 2025. Hülkenberg currently drives for Haas, but the American team has new drivers on the way for 2025 with current Alpine driver Esteban Ocon and Ferrari reserve Oliver Bearman.
Sauber has struggled this season and is still the only team to have scored a point. Bottas and Guanyu are also both at zero points. Guanyu made his F1 debut with Alfa Romeo in 2022 and remained with the team after it reverted to its original Sauber name in 2024. His best result is ninth place, which he has achieved three times.
Valtteri Bottas (left) and Zhou Guanyu – Photo via Sauber
Bottas has 10 wins under his belt, all of which he achieved while working at Mercedes-Benz AMG. He also joined Alfa Romeo in 2022 but has struggled to gain ground since.
The only remaining F1 seat for 2025 is at RB. Red Bull Racing’s feeder team has already confirmed current driver Yuki Tsunoda for next season. Liam Lawson, currently driving alongside Tsunoda, will almost certainly take the remaining seat given his strong performances since joining the team after the Singapore Grand Prix as a replacement for Daniel Ricciardo.