Official: Sauber F1 recruits Felipe Nasr for 2015

Uncertainty loomed over the second Sauber seat for the 2015 season after the announcement of Marcus Ericsson’s arrival. And the least we can say is that the duo for the Swiss team for the upcoming year is quite unexpected, as it is Felipe Nasr, currently second in the GP2 championship and reserve driver for Team Williams, who will be lined up alongside the Swede.

Nasr does not arrive alone at Sauber as he brings with him Banco do Brasil, the Brazilian banking institution that sponsors the driver in GP2 but is also a sponsor of Williams this season.

The choice of Sauber was therefore not to trust its current drivers, the regulars Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez, and the reserve driver Giedo van der Garde, who was confident nonetheless.

In an official statement, Monisha Kaltenborn justifies her choice: “We have been following Felipe’s career for some time now, and he fully deserves his place in Formula 1. He has had a very successful journey in the junior categories. We are happy to see him behind the wheel of one of our cars next year. This means that Brazil will have another talented young driver in motorsport. Banco do Brasil has been an important partner for Felipe up to now, and we are delighted that this renowned company continues to support him in this important step. We look forward to this partnership.”

On Felipe Nasr’s side, who had been working towards this F1 debut for a year, joy prevails: It’s a very important step in my career to join Sauber for 2015. It’s an unforgettable moment that I owe to everyone who supported me: my family, my friends, my sponsors, and my country. Today, the dream has become a reality. Sauber has brought big names like Felipe Massa, Kimi Räikkönen, Robert Kubica, and Sebastian Vettel to F1. Today, I am proud to also be part of this family. Thank you to Williams, where I learned a lot and prepared myself to be an F1 driver.