For the first time since 2017, a Brazilian driver is guaranteed to play a full season in F1 with the promotion of Gabriel Bortoleto to Sauber thanks to the sportsmanship of McLaren which released him.
Mattia Binotto, the leader of the Audi F1 program who will take over from Sauber in 2026 with an engine bearing the brand's rings, is full of praise for his new foal.
The choice that had to be made focused more on the medium-long term, which pushed the decision-makers to rely on the youth of Bortoleto (20 years) rather than on the experience of Valtteri Bottas (35 years).
The recent arrival of several promising rookies has undoubtedly also played a role, with the performances of Liam Lawson, Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman not having gone unnoticed.
Reassured by the new generation
“It is true that seeing young drivers succeed in F1 gives me confidence that Gabriel can succeed very well from the startrecognizes Binotto. I think that was a convincing factor, not to choose a young driver but to know how much time he would need. And I am convinced that he will do a good job from the start of our collaboration.”
To initial his contract with Sauber/Audi, Bortoleto was released by McLaren who had invested in him since October 2023 after his FIA F3 title. This season, the Brazilian is leading the FIA Formula 2 championship as a rookie, showing brilliance and consistency in racing, as his double success at Monza highlighted.
Released unconditionally
“Gabriel Bortoleto will be released from the McLaren driver development program at the end of the 2024 season to pursue a new opportunity in his career, said Andrea Stella, Woking team principal. It has been a pleasure working with Gabriel over the past year and being able to contribute to his growth as a driver.”
“We have a strong team with Lando and Oscar and so we have always been clear that we would not stand in the way of an opportunity for Gabriel to progress until we are able to offer him a seat at McLaren,
he clarified. We will continue to support him in his campaign for the Formula 2 title in 2024 and wish him the best for the future.”
Binotto wanted to thank McLaren for its fair play since no transaction was necessary, the young driver being simply released from his previous contractual obligations so as not to hinder his future and allow him to reach the rank of starter in F1 from 2025.
Protégé of Fernando Alonso
“I have followed Gabriel's career, even more intensely in recent weeks and monthsexplains the Italian-Swiss engineer. I saw him run, and run well, I was impressed by his speed, by his potential but above all by his ability to progress. If I look around, I think he's one of the most talented and promising drivers among the rookies.”
Remember that this transfer was facilitated by Fernando Alonso, who manages Bortoleto's career through his agency A14 Management, whose good relations with Zak Brown are known since his time at McLaren as well as with Binotto and Stella, his former Ferrari colleagues.
“Gabriel is undoubtedly a great champion of tomorrow, estimate le Matador. Despite his young age, he shows remarkable maturity and an extraordinary sense of racing. His intelligence is also seen in his technical feedback already very sharp. In addition, he is a well-bred young man of great humility, undoubtedly the thing he will have to work on the most.”
Don't throw any more away, the cup is full!
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