Sauber boss Mattia Binotto has revealed McLaren didn’t request a financial sum in the deal to let Gabriel Bortoleto move to the team to compete in Formula 1 in 2025.
Bortoleto will make his debut in F1 next season as Sauber announced earlier this week that he has been picked as the driver to partner the incoming Nico Hulkenberg.
The Brazilian’s contractual ties to McLaren, where he has been since last term, provided a potential obstacle as a deal hinged on the team’s willingness to release him.
However, McLaren insisted during last weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix that it would be prepared to let Bortoleto go in the scenario where an F1 chance was available.
The Woking-based squad’s stance derived from having Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who have helped it to lead the F1 standings, committed to long-term contracts.
Indeed, Binotto has divulged that the Audi-owned Sauber squad wasn’t made to part with cash to acquire Bortoleto as McLaren placed no asking price on his services.
“I didn’t discuss with Zak [Brown, McLaren CEO], if not just to say hello and shake hands. We didn’t pay,” Binotto disclosed.
“Gabriel was more free to leave because he got the opportunity.”
Sauber plans Bortoleto post-season F1 run-out
McLaren’s support has seen Bortoleto back up his maiden title triumph in Formula 3 last season with a narrow championship lead in Formula 2 with two rounds to go.
However, Bortoleto’s stint with McLaren has extended to a sole TPC [Testing in a Previous Car] appearance in an F1 car, which occurred at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
But the Sauber-bound driver has admitted a plan is in place to get him behind the wheel of the Hinwil-based squad’s C45 challenger in the Abu Dhabi post-season test.
“I just did one day with McLaren,” he confirmed. “I was at Red Bull Ring, and that was a nice day. Did some testing with the F1 car for the first time.
“And yeah, the plan is to do the young driver tests with Sauber at the end of the season, get used to the phone car even more and ready for next season.”
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