Gabriel Bortoleto’s father reveals ‘issue’ that could stop him racing for Sauber next year

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With only one seat up for grabs on the Formula 1 grid in 2025, all eyes are turned to Sauber on who they go with alongside Nico Hulkenberg.

It is not expected that Sauber will retain Zhou Guanyu beyond this season after a lacklustre year for the Chinese driver, while there is still some ambiguity over whether they will retain Valtteri Bottas.

Bottas is a proven race winner in F1 but his position has been made complicated this year by both Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto being parachuted in from F2 and seemingly doing a good enough job to warrant a full-time seat.

This has led to speculation that Gabriel Bortoleto could be in the running for the seat if McLaren decides to loan him out to Audi.

According to his father, Lincoln Oliveira, he outlined one barrier that could prevent him from getting the seat when speaking to Motorsport Brazil.

Gabriel Bortoleto could face ‘complicated’ situation that prevents 2025 seat

It appears as though Colapinto and Bortoleto are the two most obvious candidates if Sauber elects to go with youth over the experienced Bottas.

However, much like Colapinto faces budget problems over a seat next year, Bortoleto’s father has revealed a potential road block that could impact his chances.

“Look, 2025 is complicated because there is a single vacancy, there are several suitors, there is a contractual issue between McLaren and Audi, that they are talking to each other,” said Bortoleto.

“I believe they will come to a conclusion that can be cool, but I still don’t have this information, if it’s for 2025, but 2026 we know that he should be on the grid,” he concluded.”

Sauber told they should snub ‘phenomenal’ driver and sign Franco Colapinto

Colapinto has impressed since making his full-time debut with Williams at the Italian Grand Prix, only making one error during practice in Azerbaijan before going on to take his first points.

He would repeat the feat at the recent US GP in Austin, having started from 14th on the grid and worked his way up through the field including passing Fernando Alonso on a strategy he produced.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Williams driver Franco Colapinto with praise to stats

Alonso and Colapinto joked that Williams was now the ‘McLaren of the midfield’ after the Aston Martin driver was unable to fight for position.

Sauber has been told that Colapinto’s raw speed and unexpected consistency have been impressive enough that it has warranted a seat on the grid, according to Alex Jacques.