Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber announced on Wednesday that Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu won’t be returning to the team after three seasons with the Swiss team. F1’s worst-performing team is desperately attempting to right a sinking ship before becoming Audi’s factory team in 2026.

As expected, Sauber has made a bold move for the future, signing Gabriel Bortoleto to partner Nico Hulkenberg for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Signing Bortoleto, who leads the Formula 2 standings with two rounds to go, gives Sauber a blend of youth and experience alongside the 37-year-old Hülkenberg. German automaker Audi is taking over Sauber, which will be rebranded as the Audi works team for 2026.