Voltorate has already signed a contract with Sauber F1 to replace Formula1-Data / F1 information and breaking news reporting

20-year-old Brazilian FIA-F2 championship driver Gabriel Bortleto has reportedly signed a Formula 1 contract with Sauber, based in Hinwil, Switzerland, to replace Valtteri Bottas.

In 2022, Voltrate has signed a contract with A14 Management, a driver management company run by two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso. He joined McLaren’s driver development program in October 2023.

McLaren boss Andrea Stella said at Interlagos, the opening day of the Sao Paulo F1 Grand Prix in Boltoreto’s home country, “We have no intention of restricting Gabriel’s ability to drive in F1.” that negotiations are still ongoing.

However, Auto Motor und Sport in Germany said, “It seems that the deal has already been finalized, and an official announcement will be made soon.”

It is said that the announcement will not be made during the Grand Prix week in his home country of Brazil, due to concerns that it would attract too much attention and that Voltorate would be bombarded with media coverage. Boltrate is in the field as McLaren’s F1 reserve driver.

Sauber, which will resume as an Audi works team in 2026, have already announced the signing of experienced Nico Hulkenberg, and are understood to have been considering hiring a young driver from a potential future perspective .

On the other hand, apart from Bottas, there were also talks about other players with F1 experience such as Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher as candidates for a seat next season.

Although the accuracy of the report is unknown, Boltrate’s background is perfect for his F1 debut.

Boltreto made his Italian F4 debut in 2020, and after competing in the European Formula Regional Championship, entered the FIA-F3 Championship with Trident in 2023, where he won two races and took six podiums. He won the championship in his first year.

This year, he stepped up to F2, and ahead of the last two and four races, he is at the top of the rankings with a difference of 4.5 points over Isaac Hajjar, who is under the Red Bull training umbrella, and will win he is the youngest. division just below F1 for the second year in a row It’s a trend.

Three-time F1 champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) praised Voltrate, saying ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, “If I was at Sauber, I would have signed him already.”

F1 Sao Paulo GP special feature