Mattia Binotto is reportedly considering motorsport rookie Gabriel Bortoleto to replace Sauber star Valtteri Bottas next season. Bortoleto impressed with his performances in his first year in Formula 2 and could be close to making the move to Formula 1.

Sauber is planning to make changes to its driver line-up for 2025. Nico Hulkenberg has been announced as one of the drivers who will race next season.

Bottas and Zhou Guanyu have failed to score any points in the Drivers’ Championship this season, fuelling speculation about the future of each. Hulkenberg, 36, could reportedly be paired with a rookie in a brand new squad in 2025, with the team then set to become Audi in 2026.

According to Italian publication Formu1a.Uno, 19-year-old McLaren academy driver Bortoleto is being considered as Bottas’ replacement. The Brazilian currently sits second on the F2 drivers’ leaderboard after a successful debut season.

Bortoleto joined the McLaren academy after winning the Formula Three title last year, and has also gained experience of the mechanics of an F1 race weekend by helping McLaren in the simulator during race weekends.

Several rookies could race in F1 next year. Bortoleti could join 19-year-old British driver Oliver Bearman, whose Haas move was announced earlier this year after impressing on his Ferrari debut.

Kimi Antonelli could replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, with the 17-year-old Italian one of several options for Toto Wolff outside of a blockbuster move for Max Verstappen.

The rookie entry into F1 represents a changing of the guard on the grid, with Hamilton’s former Mercedes mate Bottas’ place looking increasingly precarious – the Finn had previously been confident of retaining his seat.

“I think I need to make my choice right away,” Bottas admitted at the Canadian Grand Prix last month. “Nothing has been signed by me yet, but I am still working with all the options and I need to make a move soon.

“(Audi) is willing to wait a long time. But I can’t wait forever, so this team is definitely still an option but I don’t think I have time to wait too long, so I want to speed things up.”

Asked if he would take on the role of reserve driver, he said: “I’m sure I’ll get a seat, but in this sport nothing is ever set in stone so you can’t be 100% sure until the contract is signed.

“But I’m not worried about how I see it right now. The next week or two will definitely be interesting.”