Kick Sauber has made an announcement regarding the current F2 frontrunner Gabriel Bortoleto, who will be joining the team on a multi-year contract alongside Nico Hülkenberg. This news coincided with the decision to not retain the existing drivers—Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu—after a challenging season that has seen them earn no points over the course of 21 races.
This decision has led to Bottas and Zhou no longer having seats for the 2025 season.
The announcement marks the conclusion of a three-year relationship between Bottas and Zhou with Sauber. Reports suggest that Bottas is contemplating a reserve role with either Mercedes or Audi for 2026; however, Zhou’s future remains uncertain.
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Bottas later reflected on his exit as a difficult moment and noted that conversations in recent months indicated that the project could not progress further with him on board. He described his time with Sauber as a significant and memorable chapter in his career.
Meanwhile, Bottas expressed his gratitude on social media, thanking everyone for the past three years and wishing all the best for the future of Kick Sauber.