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Valtteri Bottas won’t be on the 2025 Formula 1 grid with McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto set to replace him at Sauber
Valtteri Bottas will not be competing on the 2025 Formula 1 grid as McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto is set to replace him at Sauber. Sauber has officially confirmed the departures of Bottas and his teammate Zhou Guanyu, paving the way for Bortoleto to join Nico Hulkenberg for the upcoming season. Despite having a deal in place with Sauber, Bottas did not receive a 2025 contract from the new team boss, Mattia Binotto, who opted for youth over experience by choosing the 20-year-old Bortoleto. This decision by Sauber has left Bottas without a seat in F1 for the first time since his debut in 2013, prompting him to explore a potential return to Mercedes where he previously served as a reserve driver for five seasons. While Bottas looks ahead to his future in F1, Zhou expressed his gratitude towards Sauber for the opportunities and growth he experienced during his three-year stint with the team.
