Gabriel Bortoleto said he was determined not to sit out a year of racing in 2025 after Sauber confirmed he will make his debut for them in Formula 1 next year.
Sauber confirmed last week the Formula 2 championship leader will join them as Nico Hulkenberg’s team mate.
“It feels amazing,” Bortoleto told the official F1 channel. “It’s like a dream. Since I was very young I started racing with a dream to reach F1 one day and now, being able to sign this contract and to be on the grid in ’25, I’m very grateful. And I’m looking forward to it.”
Some drivers who have graduated from F2 to F1 have had to wait a year or more, such as Antonio Giovinazzi. Oscar Piastri sat out the 2022 season after winning the F2 title the previous year before he was signed by McLaren for 2023. Jack Doohan will make his debut for Alpine next year after sitting out this season.
Bortoleto says Sauber were considering whether they preferred to sign him for 2025 or sign another driver for next year and have him join the team in 2026, but he pushed to have a race seat next season so he would not be left on the sidelines.
“We have been talking for a couple of months already, I believe, about what was going to happen. If it was going to happen in ’26 or in ’25,” he explained. “But I think the ’25 news came not so long ago.
“It feels very good, because I didn’t want to stay one year without driving. Now, being able to continue the momentum of driving – F3, F2 and now going to F1 next year – I think it’s the best way to do it.”
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Sauber will transition into Audi ahead of the 2026 season and the introduction of new power units. Bortoleto says he was impressed by a pitch, presented by Audi F1’s chief operating officer Mattia Binotto, describing the team’s plans.
“I think the project that Mattia showed me about Audi in Formula 1 – the future, what he wants, what Audi wants, and to be obviously the first Audi driver ever – it’s such a great thing and an exciting project,” he said. “So I’m looking forward to it.
“At the same time, when you get the chance at F1, you don’t think so much where I’m going to be, more just jump in and do the best you can. But I was a very lucky guy to have been offered a nice project for my future on a multi-year situation.”
Bortoleto has been a member of the McLaren driver development programme during his rookie F2 campaign. He says his focus is on his final two F2 rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi in which he will continue to be a member of McLaren’s programme.
“I’m a McLaren driver until Sunday of the Abu Dhabi race,” he said. “I’m still with them as a part of the academy.
“They are giving all the support needed for these two rounds. We did an exceptional job this year in Formula 2 so far. We need to finish on a high. We are aiming for, obviously, finishing this championship the best way possible. So all the work I was doing before I will keep doing.”
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