“The way he is driving impressed me and more than that, as I told him, is his capacity to develop, improve and progress through the season itself. He’s doing it in his season in F2. The start has been difficult, but then he’s really been capable not to lose the direction of what he is to trying to achieve.
“He has shown progress this season and that’s what counts the most for me.”
Binotto said he met Bortoleto a few weeks ago in his office in Hinwil and was immediately “impressed by his personality, attitude and mindset”. It was after that meeting that Sauber/Audi accelerated their pursuit of the Brazilian, who Binotto said was free to leave McLaren if he got this opportunity.
ANALYSIS: Why Sauber chose to go with Bortoleto and youth rather than Bottas and experience
“I don’t think he’s only a fantastic, high-potential driver, but he’s a great, great person, too, and that’s something for our project as well – it’s very important,” he added. “So overall, I’m very happy to be here announcing Gabriel.”
Bortoleto is managed by Fernando Alonso’s driver management agency A14. Binotto knows Alonso well from their time spent together at Ferrari but the Italian said he had very little contact with the double world champion regarding the Brazilian racer.
“I know very well Fernando from my past experience, because of how we met in the paddock,” said Binotto. “But he never influenced, never tried to come to me with a convincing argument because I think what convinced me was Gabriel, nothing else. So with Fernando, yes, I had once a chat but really, very little.”
