The 2025 season marked the end of a motorsport chapter for Sauber as they prepared to depart from Formula One, with the team transitioning in to Audi for 2026. With the Audi takeover imminent, this year offered a period of transition for the team which began with a new driver line-up.
The Hulk
Veteran driver Nico Hulkenberg joined Sauber this year pairing up with rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. The German driver was an obvious choice for the team who have benefited from his 15-years of Formula 1 racing experience, helping them develop a top team as they transition from Sauber to Audi.
Hulkenberg broke a Formula One record in 2025: the longest wait for a podium in F1 history. It took 239 race starts for him to finish on the podium, but, he finally got his champagne spray moment when he finished third in an action filled British Grand Prix. The changeable weather conditions caught many drivers out, allowing the German driver to charge from nineteenth on the grid all the way up to third on the podium.
This podium helps to highlight the promising trajectory this team is on. It wasn’t just Hulkenberg waiting a long time for that podium but Sauber too. Sauber hadn’t claimed a podium since Kamui Kobayashi took third place at the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix.
Hulkenberg finished the championship season in 11th, with a points total of 51. He had a consistent season with nine top ten finishes and only two DNFs.
Rookie to Watch
Gabriel Bortoleto was one of six rookies to join the 2025 grid. After claiming championship titles in both Formula 2 and Formula 3, expectations were high for Bortoleto’s step up to Formula One.
Bortoleto had an underwhelming start to his season, beginning with a spin in Melbourne that ended his race. The bad luck continued as he failed to finish in the points for the first ten races of the season.
Despite the poor start, Bortoleto went on to have a solid rookie season, managing to score points on five different occasions. His most impressive drive came at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he qualified seventh and managed to finish sixth, securing eight points as well as the fan vote for Driver of the Day.
Bortoleto finished the season 19th overall with just nineteen points, however, when taking in to consideration the challenging car, and five DNFs, he had a pretty good rookie season. The young Brazilian driver has shown both the required pace and strength to compete in the highest level of motor-racing.
Wheatley Leads the Charge
The team changes didn’t just stop with the driver line-up, Sauber’s team management saw a major overhaul in 2025. In 2024, Sauber didn’t have a Team Principal, opting for a Team Representative instead, but in 2025 Jonathan Wheatley joined as Team Principal, ready to lead the charge ahead of the Audi takeover.
Wheatley’s extensive Formula One experience made him the perfect candidate to take control of Sauber. We witnessed a significant turnaround in the team’s performance under his leadership. Sauber amassed over 23 times their points total from the previous season, secured their first podium in over a decade, and moved up in the Constructors’ Championship standings; a great progression for the team.
Despite the impressive progress, the team finished the season 9th in the Constructors’ standings. Although the team was aiming for much higher than 9th, it is actually Sauber’s greatest points total since 2012.
Looking Ahead
After demonstrating remarkable progress in the 2025 season, the Sauber name will soon be replaced by Audi as they complete their full takeover in 2026. The team needs to carry their current momentum forward in to next season, focusing on stabilising their position as a consistent midfield team.
Gabriel Bortoleto will no longer be a rookie, and expectations will be higher for him and teammate Nico Hulkenberg. The team will be relying on both drivers to fight for points every weekend, as they hope to cement themselves in the midfield fight and higher in the Constructors’ standings.
The team have everything in place to succeed in 2026 – an experienced championship winning team principal, two incredible drivers, and a new name, with Audi ready to take to the Formula 1 grid.
Ellie J
Featured image: dazn.com
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