Valtteri Bottas Out as Audi F1 Finalizes 2025 Driver Lineup
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Valtteri Bottas is set to lose his Sauber seat for F1 2025 as Audi F1 secures McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto. Get the latest updates on the team’s driver lineup and what it means for Bottas’s future.
Audi F1 Secures Gabriel Bortoleto for F1 2025
Valtteri Bottas will lose his Sauber seat for the F1 2025 season, as Audi F1 finalizes a deal to sign McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto. The Swiss-based team confirmed the move on Tuesday morning, effectively ending speculation over Bottas’s future with the team.
Bottas Dropped as Audi F1 Shapes New Era
With the arrival of Nico Hülkenberg from Haas already announced in April, Audi F1 initially targeted Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon for the second seat. However, after Sainz and Ocon chose to sign with Williams and Haas respectively, the team was forced to explore other options.
Several drivers were considered, including Zhou Guanyu, former Haas driver Mick Schumacher, Aston Martin reserve Felipe Drugovich, Sauber reserve Théo Pourchaire, and Williams F1 2024 supersub Franco Colapinto. Ultimately, Audi F1 has settled on 20-year-old Gabriel Bortoleto, a rising star from Brazil.
Gabriel Bortoleto: The Next Brazilian F1 Star?
Bortoleto is currently leading the prestigious Formula 2 (formerly GP2) championship, holding a narrow 4.5-point lead over Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar ahead of the final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Managed by two-time F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso, Bortoleto has been part of McLaren’s junior academy since 2023. With McLaren's current drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, locked into long-term contracts, team principal Andrea Stella signaled his openness to allowing Bortoleto to move to Audi F1 for a race seat.
“Having the possibility to talk about Gabriel, I would like to take this opportunity to say once again how good of a job he’s been doing in junior categories — winning F3, leading F2 in his first season,” Stella said at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
“McLaren will not stop the possibility for Gabriel to drive Formula 1. So conversations are ongoing, and we will see what the future holds.”
Bottas's Future: Mercedes Reserve Role?
With Audi F1 opting for a fresh start, Bottas’s future in Formula 1 is uncertain. The Finn, a 10-time Grand Prix winner with Mercedes, has been on the F1 grid since his debut with Williams in 2013. However, with no race seats currently available, he has been linked to a return to Mercedes as a reserve driver.
Speaking at the Mexican Grand Prix, Bottas admitted that while his priority is to remain a full-time F1 driver, he is open to exploring other opportunities, including a backup role at Mercedes.
“Firstly, the priority is to stay as a race driver, that’s what I want, and that’s what I’m pushing for with Mattia,” Bottas told reporters.
“But, of course, as I don’t have anything signed – we’re in October – I’ve got to look at all the alternatives, including going back to the Mercedes family.”
“That’s for sure one option and I would consider it. But there are other options as well.”
What This Means for Audi F1 and the 2025 Grid
Audi F1’s decision to sign Bortoleto marks a significant shift in their long-term strategy as they prepare for a full factory entry in F1 2026. The German manufacturer, which is taking over the Sauber team, aims to build a competitive foundation before its full-scale debut.
With Nico Hülkenberg bringing experience and stability, and Bortoleto providing youthful promise, Audi F1’s driver lineup is now set. Meanwhile, Bottas’s potential move to a reserve role at Mercedes could keep him in contention for a return to racing in 2026.
Conclusion
As the F1 2025 driver market takes shape, Audi F1’s move to sign Gabriel Bortoleto over Valtteri Bottas signals a fresh direction for the team’s future. The Brazilian’s arrival marks the return of a full-time Brazilian driver to Formula 1, the first since Felipe Massa in 2017.
With the official announcement expected soon, all eyes will be on Audi F1 as they prepare to enter their next era in Formula 1. Meanwhile, Bottas must now decide whether to continue fighting for a race seat or take a step back in hopes of a return in 2026.
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