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Did Sauber/Audi string Valtteri Bottas along before dropping him? Is the decision unfair given how he’s driving? We debate Bottas’s departure from the F1 grid
The 2025 Formula 1 line-up for the Audi-owned Sauber team has been finalized, with Valtteri Bottas making way for McLaren F1 junior Gabriel Bortoleto, the current Formula 2 standings leader. There are questions about whether Bottas has been treated unfairly, given his successful five seasons at Mercedes and strong performance in 2024. Despite his stellar track record, Bottas will not continue with Sauber in 2025, as Bortoleto joins Nico Hulkenberg in the team. The decision to replace Bottas may be motivated by the future outlook, as the team aims for long-term success in line with Audi’s vision for the F1 team. Sauber’s choice to bring in Bortoleto may have been influenced by the lackluster performance of other young drivers this season, signaling a need for change to revitalize the team.
