'Bortoleto won't join Stake F1, team have deal secured with another driver'

Not the current F2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto, but Valtteri Bottas seems to become the driver who can pair up with Nico Hulkenberg next season at Stake F1 [the team that become Audi in 2026], according to Blick. The Finnish driver is therefore rumoured to continue his career at the team he joined back in 2022.

A team principal has reportedly asked the Swiss newspaper Blick between FP1 and FP2 in Singapore about whether Valtteri Bottas has already signed a contract with the team for next season. The team principal reportedly also said earlier that Audi would join forces with Sauber, something that eventually happened.

Earlier this season, after Nico Hulkenberg was signed for the Audi project, but the second driver is yet to be announced. Carlos Sainz was rumoured to join the team, but the Spaniard decided to sign with James Vowles and Williams instead.

GPblog reported earlier this month that Gabriel Bortoleto was at the top of Audi's wishlist. Bottas was considered an alternative, however, both drivers reportedly want two-year deals instead of just getting a seat for 2025 ahead of the team officially running with their name and their engine.

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