McLaren say they did not want to stand in Gabriel
Bortoleto’s way after agreeing to release him from his contract to take up a
race seat with the Audi F1 (Sauber) team for the F1 2025 season.
Audi F1, who will take over the existing Sauber team
in F1 2026, confirmed their driver lineup for the F1 2025 season on Tuesday
with Bortoleto becoming Nico Hulkenberg‘s
team-mate.
McLaren release Gabriel Bortoleto to join Audi F1 team
Bortoleto has established himself as a star of the future
in 2024 and leads the prestigious F2 (formerly GP2) standings ahead of the
final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Clinching the title in F1’s official feeder series would
see the Brazilian follow in the footsteps of Hulkenberg as well as Lewis
Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Charles Leclerc and George Russell.
Bortoleto, who is managed by current Aston Martin driver
and two-time F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso, joined McLaren’s junior academy
at the end of his title-winning F3 season in 2023.
With current race drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
under long-term contracts, however, the Constructors’ Championship leaders have
agreed to release Bortoleto from his deal in order to further his career.
In a short statement, McLaren said: “Gabriel Bortoleto will
be released from the McLaren Driver Development programme at the end of the
2024 season to pursue a new opportunity in his career.
“It has been a pleasure to work with Gabriel over the last
year and to have been able to contribute to his success and growth as a driver
through the McLaren Driver Development programme.
“We have a strong driver line-up in Lando and Oscar, and
therefore we have always been clear that we would not stand in the way of an
opportunity for Gabriel to progress whilst we are not in the position to offer
him a seat with McLaren.
“We look forward to continuing to support Gabriel in his
campaign for the 2024 FIA Formula 2 title and wish him all the best for his
career beyond F2.”
Bortoleto, of Sao Paulo, will become the first full-time
Brazilian driver to race in F1 since Felipe Massa in 2017.
Speaking after his Audi F1 deal was announced, Bortoleto
hailed the German manufacturer’s plans as one of the “most exciting” projects
in sport, let alone motor racing.
And he aired his confidence that the team are on course to
achieve great things in F1.
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.
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