‘Sensational’ F2 star predicted to partner Nico Hulkenberg at Sauber in 2025

Follow us on Google Discover

New Audi team principal Mattia Binotto will have spent the summer break analysing his options for 2025 as he tries to find a teammate for Nico Hulkenberg.

Sauber moved quickly in 2024 to secure the German veteran after failing to sign him for this season.

Andreas Seidl wanted to replace Valtteri Bottas but the Finn stayed on but may be wondering if that was the right choice considering the team’s current struggles.

In the end, Bottas has managed to survive longer than Seidl within the Sauber / Audi set-up although whether he’s still on the grid in 2025 is another matter.

Bottas is one of the likely candidates to stay at Sauber and continue as Nico Hulkenberg’s teammate.

His Sauber compatriot Zhou Guanyu believes his chances of being offered a drive are increasing despite the fact he’s been outperformed by the Finn for much of the season.

Speaking on the Motorsport-Magazin YouTube channel, journalist Christian Menath was making his predictions for the grid in 2025.

Audi have the benefit of being able to choose virtually any driver they want from Formula 2.

Although many of the stars of the series are connected to rival junior programs, they’ll find it very difficult to turn down a race seat elsewhere if it gets them onto the Formula 1 grid.

Menath believes that McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto will be driving alongside Hulkenberg next year.

The Brazilian won Formula 3 last year and has put himself in title contention in F2 this season.

Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar has a healthy lead in the standings with four race weekends to go but Bortoleto has quickly risen up the championship after a trick start to the year.

Gabriel Bortoleto predicted to be Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber teammate in 2025

Talking about the vacant seat at the Swiss team, Menath said: “The second Sauber driver next to Nico Hulkenberg will be Gabriel Bortoleto because of course I already lobbied for him when Andreas Seidl was still at the wheel.

“Hopefully, he has a few notes for his successor Mattia Binotto.

“The sensational talent in Formula 2 tends to be a bit overlooked in the whole Antonelli and Bearman frenzy, so I hope he gets his chance there.

“Even if the political constellation makes it a bit difficult for the McLaren junior, but honestly, what does McLaren want at the moment with a young driver?”

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

Who is Brazilian F2 driver and McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto?

Bortoleto won several karting championships in Brazil before moving to Europe as so many drivers from South America, Asia and Australasia are forced to do to gain the attention of the top teams.

The 19-year-old finished 5^th in the Italian F4 Championship before competing in two seasons in FRECA in 2021 and 2022.

He did enough to convince Trident to provide him with a seat in Formula 3 last year and after earning two victories and six podiums, he won the championship ahead of Zak O’Sullivan, Paul Aron and Franco Colapinto.

Bortoleto switched to the Invicta Racing team for this season and they’ve provided a car capable of challenging at the front of the grid.

The teenager’s win in Austria catapulted him up the standings and he’s only failed to score points twice in the last 14 races.

McLaren scooped up Brazilian talent Bortoleto to add to their academy, but Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are very much blocking his path to F1 right now.

Bortoleto needed a helping hand from Fernando Alonso to earn a move to McLaren but it might be Audi that eventually offers him his chance of racing in Formula 1.