F1 team brutally axe BOTH of their drivers – including star with 67 Grand Prix podiums

Sauber have removed both Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu from their squad for the 2025 F1 season and confirmed the two exciting stars who will replace them next year.

The team has had a nightmare season and currently sit at zero points in the constructors’ standings, with neither racer finishing in the top 10 even once this campaign.

The duo of Bottas and Guanyu have formed the Swiss team’s lineup since 2022, finishing in sixth place that year but dropping to ninth last season.

Sauber, formerly known as Alfa Romeo, is preparing for the arrival of Audi as operator in 2026.

And the manufacturer has now announced the new beginning by dropping both drivers for the 2025 campaign.

Sauber announced the decision on to break up.

‘We would like to thank both of them for the contribution they have made to the team over the past three years.

“They have been the epitome of professionalism and have used their experience and enthusiasm to support our growth.”

With Nico Hulkenberg previously named as one of the two new racers, anticipation grew as to who could complete the roster.

And today they announced F2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto as the exciting new name on their team sheet, making him the first Brazilian driver at the circuit since Felipe Massa left in 2017.

“Gabriel has already shown in the junior categories that he has what it takes to be a winning driver,” said Sauber Chief Operating Officer Mattia Binotto.

“We are very happy that he will become a team member of Sauber and Audi. Together with Gabriel, we are on the path to success and will evolve into a united force to shape a new era for Audi in motorsport.

‘Nico and Gabriel represent the ideal combination of experience and youth and position us strongly for the future.’

The 20-year-old said he was ‘incredibly grateful’ to graduate from F1 and join rising stars such as Oliver Bearman (Haas) and Kimi Andrea Antonelli (Mercedes) in making the step up.

“This is one of the most exciting projects in motorsport, if not in all sports,” he said.

“It is a true honor to be part of a team that combines the rich motorsport history of Sauber and Audi. Besides just being a member, I want to grow with this ambitious project and reach the pinnacle of motorsport.

‘I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity the team has given me and for the chance to work with an experienced driver like Nico.

“Both programs have a proven track record of nurturing young talent and I am confident that together we will write our own success story.”

Andrea Stella, team principal at McLaren, who lost Bartoleto from their squad after Sauber’s attack, said: ‘I think it is very, very normal and natural that Formula 1 teams are interested in Gabriel as a driver.

‘As far as McLaren is concerned, McLaren will not stop the opportunity for Gabriel to drive in Formula 1. So there are discussions going on and we will see what the scenario will be for the future.”

Zhou’s departure comes as no surprise as the Chinese racer is expected to leave Sauber since the Swiss manufacturer announced Hulkenberg as the newest member of their team in April.

Bottas, on the other hand, had fought to keep his place in the side and extend his career as a driver on the F1 circuit to an impressive 13th year.

After confirming his departure, the Finn said: ‘A situation like this is not easy for anyone.

“But after all the good and in-depth conversations we have had in recent weeks, we realized that the conditions were not met for this project to grow together.”

Bottas worked with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes from 2017 to 2021 and supported him to four consecutive Drivers’ Championships, finishing second in 2019 and 2020 and third in 2017 and 2021.

Reports suggest the 10-time race winner has been in contact with his former teammate about a spare place with his old manufacturer after talks with Alpine and former employers Williams collapsed earlier this year.