Valtteri Bottas to be handed F1 lifeline after remarkable early double driver decision
Sauber have made the drastic decision to dump Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu mid-season, with veteran driver Nico Hulkenberg and F2 star Gabriel Bortoleto coming in to replace them
by Felix Keith · The MirrorValterri Bottas could land at Mercedes after being unceremoniously dumped by Sauber mid-season.
Bottas had been confident of securing a seat at the new Audi-Sauber team for 2025, but has now found out that is not the case. Sauber have signed Nico Hulkenberg from Haas for 2025 and have now confirmed that Gabriel Bortoleto will partner him.
Bortoleto will join from the McLaren Driver Development programme after impressing in F2, with Zhou Guanyu the other casualty from Sauber. Bottas and Guanyu have three races left of the 2024 season at Sauber before they depart.
"A situation like this is never easy for anyone,” Bottas said. “But after all the good and in-depth discussions we had in the past weeks, we realised that the conditions to grow this project together 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.”
Guanyu said: “I am grateful to the team for giving me a chance in Formula One: 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 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.”
Mirror Sport understands Bottas could now be set to return to former team Mercedes as a reserve. The 35-year-old Finn previously enjoyed a five-year stint with Mercedes, where he secured 10 race wins, and could be welcomed back to the team.
Sauber chief Mattia Binotto believes they have secured “the ideal combination of experience and youth” with 37-year-old Hulkenburg and 20-year-old Bortoleto, who is top of the F2 standings. “This is one of the most exciting projects in motorsport, if not in all of sports,” Bortoleto said.
“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.”
McLaren said in a statement: “We have a strong driver line-up in Lando [Norris] and Oscar [Piastri], and therefore we have always been clear that we would not stand in the way of an opportunity for Gabriel to progress whilst we are not in the position to offer him a seat with McLaren. We look forward to continuing to support Gabriel in his campaign for the 2024 FIA Formula 2 title and wish him all the best for his career beyond F2.”
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