The Stake F1 team has confirmed that the Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto will join the squad for the 2025 Formula 1 season. He is part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme and will complete an entirely new driver lineup for the team, replacing Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu. Bottas, who joined the Faenza-based outfit in 2022 when the team operated under the Alfa Romeo name, was on a multi-year contract. There are reports suggesting that the Finnish driver will return to Mercedes as a reserve driver.
Earlier this year, Stake F1 also announced that Nico Hulkenberg would join the team in 2025, ahead of the team’s transition to Audi in 2026, when new technical regulations are set to take effect.
Battle for seat
This created a competitive battle for the remaining seat, with Bottas, Zhou, Bortoleto, and Williams rookie Franco Colapinto all in contention. Ultimately, Bortoleto, who is currently leading the 2023 F2 championship by 4.5 points with two rounds left in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, has been chosen by the team’s new boss, Mattia Binotto.
Bortoleto’s signing marks the first time a Brazilian will race full-time in F1 since Felipe Massa in 2017, and the first overall since Pietro Fittipaldi’s two races for Haas in 2020, when he replaced the injured Romain Grosjean.
Thus, the expected driver pairing for Stake F1 in 2025 will be Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto as the team prepares for its shift to Audi in 2026.
Reflecting on the opportunity, Bortoleto expressed his excitement about joining the team. He said -
"This is one of the most exciting projects in motorsport, if not in all of sports. Joining a team that combines the rich motorsport history of Sauber and Audi is a true honour. Beyond simply being a member, I aim to grow with this ambitious project and reach the pinnacle of motorsport. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity given to me by the team and for the chance to work alongside an experienced driver like Nico. Both programs have a proven track record of nurturing young talent, and I am confident that together, we will write our own success story."
Gernot Dollner, Chairman of Sauber Motorsport, CEO of Audi, and Volkswagen board member, praised Bortoleto’s signing as a key part of the team’s generational shift. He explained:
"Led by Mattia, Audi's Formula 1 project is making great progress in many areas. The signing of the second driver is another milestone. We are currently witnessing a generational shift in Formula 1, with young drivers immediately making an impact. By signing Gabriel Bortoleto, we have secured one of these top talents. His signing underscores Audi's long-term strategy and commitment to Formula 1."
