Gabriel Bortoleto debuts in F1 with Sauber as 6 rookies shake up the 2025 grid

Our first drivers arrive and greet fans in Melbourne 👋🇦🇺#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/z5D7brJhkg

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 13, 2025

Brazil’s triumphant return with Bortoleto

Gabriel Bortoleto steps into Formula 1 bearing the weight of a motorsport-loving nation. Since Felipe Massa’s departure in 2017, Brazil has gone without a full-time driver, enduring its longest drought since 1969. With Sauber, the young Paulista now has the chance to rewrite that narrative. During pre-season testing in Bahrain, he completed 174 laps, hit speeds of 322 km/h, and covered 941 km, providing the team with critical data to refine the C45. While his performance was solid, analysts note that Sauber’s car may only fight at the rear of the field, tempering expectations for instant success. Still, his consistency shone through, especially in short stints on C3 tires, where he trailed Isack Hadjar’s pace by just 0.040 seconds per lap.

Bortoleto’s journey to this point is remarkable. He clinched the Formula 3 title in 2023 and the Formula 2 crown in 2024, both in his debut seasons—a rare feat showcasing his speed and adaptability. Under Fernando Alonso’s guidance since 2022, the Brazilian overcame financial hurdles and gained a mentor who paved his way to the top. Now paired with veteran Nico Hülkenberg, he’ll have a seasoned benchmark to measure his potential in F1.

The challenge, however, is steep. Sauber ended 2024 as the weakest team on the grid, scraping by with minimal points and battling to climb the ranks. Hülkenberg, with 227 starts and no podiums, brings experience but faces the same task of squeezing performance from a car that appeared stiff and unstable in Bahrain’s corners. For Bortoleto, the goal will be rapid learning and proving his mettle against the German.

Rule changes shake up the season

The 2025 Formula 1 season isn’t just about new faces—it’s also about a revamped rulebook that will reshape strategies and battles. One of the most talked-about changes is the elimination of the fastest lap bonus point, introduced in 2019. The decision followed controversies, like Daniel Ricciardo’s admission during the 2024 Singapore GP that he chased the point to aid Max Verstappen’s title fight against Lando Norris. By scrapping the bonus, the series aims to level the playing field and curb tactics favoring frontrunners.

In Monaco, a historic tweak emerges: two mandatory pit stops. Aimed at spicing up action on a track notorious for overtaking difficulties, drivers must use at least three tire sets, including two different compounds in dry conditions. This could unlock bold strategies and transform the dynamic of the calendar’s most glamorous race.

Another key update is a cooling protocol for drivers. After alarming incidents in the 2023 Qatar GP, where extreme heat left drivers like Oscar Piastri drained, F1 now mandates a cooling kit—a vest with refrigerated fluids—whenever temperatures exceed 31°C. The Qatar race has also been shifted to December, aligning with cooler local winter conditions.

F1 2025 calendar: 24 races in focus

The 2025 championship features 24 rounds, maintaining its grueling global scope. The Australian GP opens the season on March 16, with the finale set for December 7 in Abu Dhabi. Brazil returns with the São Paulo GP on November 9, promising extra excitement with Bortoleto on the grid.

Key dates include:

• March 16: Australian GP (Melbourne)
• March 23: Chinese GP (Shanghai)
• April 20: Japanese GP (Suzuka)
• May 18: Monaco GP (Monte Carlo)
• November 9: São Paulo GP (Interlagos)
• December 7: Abu Dhabi GP (Yas Marina)

The São Paulo GP carries added weight after 2024’s storms forced schedule reshuffles, inspiring new rules for grid formation in emergencies.

A refreshed grid with 6 rookies

For the first time since 2010, Formula 1 welcomes six rookies in a single season, ushering in a wave of renewal. Alongside Gabriel Bortoleto at Sauber, the lineup features Oliver Bearman (Haas), Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), Jack Doohan (Alpine), and Liam Lawson (Red Bull). Ranging from 18 to 22 years old, they form the youngest cohort in years, averaging 20.3.

Bearman, 19, impressed subbing for Kevin Magnussen at Haas in 2024, while Antonelli, 18, steps into Lewis Hamilton’s shoes at Mercedes—a daunting task. Hadjar and Lawson, both 20, carry Red Bull’s backing, and Doohan, 22, aims to shine at Alpine. This rookie surge reflects teams’ faith in youth, spurred by breakout performances like Franco Colapinto’s at Williams in 2024.

Bortoleto’s rivalry with these drivers isn’t new. He’s faced them since karting and Formula 3 days, notably trading podiums with Bearman. Expectations are high for fierce battles, though some, like Bortoleto and Hadjar, may grapple with underperforming machinery.

Groundbreaking event launches the cars

Before the engines roared, Formula 1 broke new ground with a unique event in London on February 18. For the first time, all ten teams unveiled their 2025 liveries at the O2 Arena, drawing over 20,000 live attendees and 7.5 million online viewers. Dubbed F1 75 Live, the spectacle celebrated the sport’s 75th anniversary and lit up social media, with bold designs—like Aston Martin’s vibrant green and McLaren’s deep blue—fueling fan chatter.

The event’s triumph underscores F1’s push to engage audiences, blending showmanship with tech. For teams, it was a chance to showcase cars set to hit the track in earnest at the Australian GP.

Stricter rules and enhanced testing

Beyond visible shifts, 2025 brings technical and disciplinary updates. The FIA has tightened penalties for inappropriate language, hiking fines and adding potential suspensions or point deductions, as seen in recent World Rally rulings. Max Verstappen, who held an impromptu “press conference” outside the media room in Singapore 2024, could feel the heat of this policy.

Technically, car wings face tougher scrutiny starting at the Spanish GP. Following 2024 complaints from RBR and Ferrari about McLaren and Mercedes’ flexible wings, F1 will cap permitted movement, affecting downforce and aerodynamics. The move aims to ensure fair play and close loopholes.

Teams must also double their reserve driver track time, offering cars to backups in four free practice sessions. Felipe Drugovich, the 2022 F2 champ and Aston Martin reserve, is among those gaining valuable mileage, bolstering his case for a future full-time seat.

Challenges and expectations for Bortoleto at Sauber

Joining Formula 1 with Sauber puts Gabriel Bortoleto in a unique spot. His multi-year deal offers stability through the Audi transition in 2026, but the C45’s Bahrain test performance raises concerns. Experts flagged it as the slowest in long-run pace, with handling issues in corners that could hamper the Brazilian’s rookie campaign.

Nico Hülkenberg, his teammate, praised Bortoleto’s speed, calling him “damn quick” in testing. The duo’s rapport started strong, clicking at sponsor events, but Hülkenberg’s vast experience sets a high bar. If Bortoleto can match the German’s pace, it’ll mark a solid debut year.

Bortoleto’s prep has been rigorous. He visits Sauber’s Hinwil base two to three times weekly, logging simulator hours and bonding with engineers. Adapting to F1 tires—unlike those in F2—and syncing with the team, now under ex-Red Bull strategist Jonathan Wheatley starting in April, are top priorities.

What to expect from the Australian GP

The Australian GP on March 16 kicks off a season brimming with promise. Melbourne’s return as the opener brings a track blending fast sweeps and technical sections, perfect for testing new cars and drivers. For Bortoleto and fellow rookies, it’s their first real-world crucible, facing a revamped grid and updated rules.

Sauber heads in with modest hopes, but attention will center on Bortoleto’s duel with Hülkenberg and the team’s bid to escape the back. Meanwhile, McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull—pre-season standouts—are tipped to lead, though Brazilian eyes will lock on Osasco’s rising star.

With 24 races ahead, Formula 1 2025 launches under a banner of renewal. Six rookies, a Brazilian back on the grid, and rule tweaks shaking up strategies ensure thrills from the opening flag.