Valtteri Bottas won't be on the 2025 Formula 1 grid with McLaren junior Gabriel Bortoleto set to replace him at Sauber.
Sauber confirmed the exits of Bottas and team-mate Zhou Guanyu ahead of likely confirmation that Formula 2 points leader Bortoleto will take their place alongside Nico Hulkenberg next year.
Sauber and Bottas had agreed on the terms of a deal and Bottas has been ready to sign for months. But new team boss Mattia Binotto didn't give him a 2025 contract as the soon-to-be-Audi works F1 team weighed whether to gamble on youth rather than experience.
In the end Sauber has gone for 20-year-old Bortoleto, who will be released by McLaren.
With both of its drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri signed up to long-term deals with the team, McLaren said it wouldn't stand-in the way of its current junior driver Bortoleto making his F1 debut elsewhere.
It leaves 10-time race winner Bottas off the grid for the first time since he made his F1 debut with Williams in 2013.
"A situation like this is never easy for anyone," Bottas said.
"But after all the good and in-depth discussions we had in the past weeks, we realised that the conditions to grow this project together were not met.
"These past years with the team have been an incredible journey, full of growth, challenges, and unforgettable moments.
"I’m grateful for the joint experiences as well as the trust and support I’ve felt every step of the way.
"Though it’s time to move on, I’ll always carry a piece of this team with me, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for us both.”
Bottas has held talks with Mercedes about returning to the team he drove for five seasons as a reserve driver. The 35-year-old has consistently made it clear that he's not ready to give up on F1 even if Sauber didn't pick him for 2025.
Zhou was never in serious contention to retain his seat, but there's now official confirmation that he'll be out of the team after three seasons.
"I am grateful to the team for giving me a chance in Formula 1. This is not an easy sport for rookies, but the team has allowed me to grow so much over these three years," Zhou said.
from The Race https://ift.tt/8DiHOwY
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