Sauber Motorsport COO and CTO Mattia Binotto admits it was a tough decision to replace Valtteri Bottas with Gabriel Bortoleto in 2025.
Bortoleto was announced on Wednesday morning, finalizing an all-new line-up next season of the Brazilian rookie and Nico Hulkenberg. That means there is no place for 35-year-old Bottas, and Binotto admits the 10-time grand prix winner was one of the main contenders for the vacancy but that the timing felt right to introduce a young driver while the Stake team evolves into the Audi works outfit.
“I’m getting on very well with Valtteri,” Binotto (pictured above, with Bottas) said. “It has been a great relationship since I’ve started here in August, building it, trusting each other. And I think we really set up and had good communication between us. We had several talks about the journey, the length and duration of the journey, and the difficulties we will maybe face in the next seasons.
“We know that the next one will be a difficult season as a team, as a journey towards the Audi F1 transformation. It’s a long journey. I think on the duration is where we mainly reflected together a lot, and it’s where I came to the conclusion that maybe we will need to have a young driver with us.
“So all of it with him has been a mutual, let’s say, understanding — if not agreement, certainly a mutual understanding — of the situation, the facts and what’s required.
“More than that, I would like to underline I think he has certainly been a very strong candidate. I know he’s very fast. I know that he has proven to be very fast until today, very fit, he knows the team. Certainly he is very highly rated here, and he’s very highly rated in the paddock.
“So overall it has not been an easy one, but sometimes you need to come to a conclusion and make a decision. And we made it.”
Bottas says both sides were aware of where their future plans did not match up, as the Finn now looks certain to not race in Formula 1 in 2025.
“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 realized 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.
“When one door closes, another one opens. I’m actually very excited for the future and what’s next.”
