McLaren set for major blow as Sauber 'make decision' on Valtteri Bottas' F1 seat

Sauber are reportedly set to confirm a new contract for incumbent driver Valtteri Bottas with Mattia Binotto opting against signing McLaren junior prospect Gabriel Bortoleto, despite him currently leading the Formula Two championship.

Bortoleto is on track to follow in the footsteps of George Russell and Oscar Piastri by winning Formula Three and F2 in successive seasons, and Andrea Stella and McLaren rate the Brazilian racer extremely.

Binotto is also a fan of the 19-year-old, although according to RacingNews365, he has instead opted to award Bottas a new one-year contract. The Finnish racer has outqualified team-mate Zhou Guanyu in 17 of the 18 Grands Prix this season and will be a steady pair of hands alongside new signing Nico Hulkenberg.

This will be frustrating news for McLaren, who would have hoped to get the crown jewel of their young driver programme into an F1 seat, while retaining the option to bring him into their driver line-up should either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri jump ship.

In an interview with Autosport earlier this month, Stella described the teenager as "important" for the future of the team. "If Binotto came to me... when you have such a talent, definitely you're not going to stop him having a chance in Formula One," he stated.

"At the same time, we will be definitely interested in finding a way to keep him in the McLaren family, because I think he's a talent that in the future could be important for McLaren.

"We are safe for the long term with our two drivers. We couldn't be any happier. But definitely, we would like to keep him in the McLaren family. But I'm sure we could find a solution."

If Bortoleto plans to make it onto the F1 grid with McLaren then he will need intense patience, or the assistance of a frontrunning team poaching either Norris or Piastri, which seems unlikely while the Woking-based team have the best car in the field.

Bortoleto will also be contesting with IndyCar sensation Pato O'Ward if a seat does become available. The Mexican racer is highly rated by CEO Zak Brown and is scheduled to test in FP1 at his home race in Mexico City later this season, and will no doubt be in the conversation should Norris or Piastri leave the McLaren stable.