Bortoleto and Hulkenberg aim to fight with Sauber ahead of its transition into Audi's works outfit
Sauber's all-new driver line-up Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg aim to fight in the midfield in the 2025 F1 season before the Swiss outfit makes its transition into Audi's works F1 squad.
Sauber unveiled its 2025 F1 car and its brand-new livery at the O2 Arena in London. The C45 was presented by the team’s new driver pairing, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, who were joined by Chief Operating Officer & Chief Technical Officer, Mattia Binotto, on the stage.
The C45 will take to the track in next week’s Bahrain Pre-Season Test. The engineering team was led by former McLaren's technical chief James Key.
As for the aims, the team noted that it intends to "land into the midfield battle with the new car" which has been "built to fight harder, push further, and take every opportunity that comes its way."
The C45 is a combination of evolution and revolution, with the Hinwil-based outfit stating that "development efforts in this final year of the current regulations focused on a fully re-engineered aerodynamic package, alongside mechanical refinements underneath the bodywork."
The cooling system and a new front and rear suspension architecture have all been addressed. The C45 sporting an improved, sleek livery featuring its now signature black and green.
Following testing in Bahrain, the car will make its race debut in Melbourne on 16 March.
Having made the switch from Haas to Sauber, Nico Hulkenberg stated: "A new team brings many changes, and countless small details need to be fine-tuned, which is why I’m pleased with how productive our first few weeks together have been.
"I’ve recognized some familiar faces from my first time with Sauber, but a lot has changed in the last ten years – and continues to evolve. There’s a great spirit in the team right now, and of course, we’re all focused on improving from last year. The road ahead is long, but our future is taking shape day by day.
"It feels great to be part of this journey, and together with Gabriel, I want to play my role in driving our progress forward. The off-season has never been my favorite time of the year, so I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car for testing and kicking off the season soon. I’m ready for this new challenge.”
Ahead of his looming debut at the pinnacle of motorsport, Gabriel Bortoleto added: “We have put in a lot of hard work over the winter, and I have spent a great deal of time in the factory—in the simulator, with the team, and pushing myself to learn as much as possible for the season ahead.
"Although our testing days are limited, every lap is valuable in helping me adapt and prepare for the season ahead. I’m really excited to embark on this journey with the team.
"With all the effort we have put in, I believe the C45 has the potential to make a definite step forward. Of course, we know the competition is fierce, with other teams also working hard, but we trust in the work we’ve done and are ready to give it our all on track.”
