How Andrea Stella feels about loaning Gabriel Bortoleto to Sauber in 2025

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McLaren have one of the most settled and arguably the strongest driver line-up on the grid this season.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri now have two Grand Prix victories each to their name after the Australian brilliant Azerbaijan Grand Prix win.

However, team principal Andrea Stella may be facing a driver dilemma he didn’t expect to arise as quickly as it has.

McLaren signed Gabriel Bortoleto at the end of last year after the young Brazilian won the Formula 3 championship in his rookie season.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine

Fernando Alonso played a role in McLaren signing Bortoleto and he was promoted to Formula 2 in 2024 to drive for Invicta Racing.

The 19-year-old has gone from strength to strength in that series this year and with four races remaining – two in Qatar and two in Abu Dhabi – he’s now leading the championship once again.

This has suddenly put Bortoleto in contention to drive for Sauber in 2025 and speaking on the UOL Esporte YouTube channel, journalist Julianne Cerasoli has shared more details about a potential move.

Cerasoli has shared that she spoke to Stella in Baku about the prospect of Bortoleto joining the grid next season.

The McLaren team boss isn’t completely against the idea but his answer suggests a move isn’t as close as many would like, including Rubens Barrichello wants Bortoleto to race in F1 as soon as possible.

How McLaren boss Andrea Stella feels about Gabriel Bortoleto racing for Sauber in 2025

Analysing the final piece in next year’s driver market, Cerasoli said: “The question is, to what extent do McLaren have the power to block any transfer for Bortoleto to another team?

“I asked Andrea Stella, the head of McLaren, what the situation was like. My question was, if [Mattia] Binotto says, I want your driver, what are you going to say to Binotto?

READ MORE: Who is Gabriel Bortoleto? F2 and McLaren junior driver’s age, nationality, stats and more

“He said the following, we will talk about it if that happens. Another thing that McLaren keeps saying is, ‘There haven’t been any conversations in this regard yet but if that happens, I will say it: I would really like it because I think Gabriel is a great talent. I want to see Gabriel in Formula 1, but we, as McLaren want to maintain some kind of relationship with him.’

“In other words, he would only go on a loan or some solution in that regard, so that’s it.

“The solution and it has a lot to do with what is actually written in Gabriel Bortoleto’s contract, which is something that we don’t know.”

Gabriel Bortoleto faces competition from two drivers for 2025 Sauber seat

Sauber have their pick of virtually every unsigned driver for next season aside from those within the Red Bull roster.

Bortoleto couldn’t have gone any more during his past two seasons in F3 and F2 to prove he’s worthy of a seat in Formula 1.

However, current Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas appears to be the favourite to retain his seat.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber from team principal to Audi future

The Finn is by far the most experienced option available to Mattia Binotto and the team looks like it needs all the help it can get considering they haven’t managed to score a point this season.

Franco Colapinto’s Williams cameo has also caught Sauber’s attention, and although he was behind Bortoleto in the F2 standings before his promotion, it’s hard to look past his fantastic performance in Baku.

Sauber may not want to rush into a decision knowing all three drivers will be willing to hold off making plans elsewhere in case an F1 offer comes along.