The rising rookie Gabriel Bortoleto shares his story exclusively with Motorsport.com. From his origins and difficult moments in junior categories that made him stronger and more successful in both Formula 3 and Formula 2, to his current season with Sauber where he is starting to shine.
It’s not easy for a Formula 1 driver to have full awareness of their sporting journey in real time. Many only appreciate their story once their career is over, often with some regrets. Gabriel Bortoleto is a remarkable exception. At just twenty years old, he shows maturity beyond his age with insightful observations that reveal a very grounded young man.
In less than two years, Bortoleto has transformed his sporting career and likely his life. On September 2, 2023, he won the Formula 3 World Championship, and on November 6 of the following year, Sauber F1 announced his signing as a full-time race driver. “I’m a happy guy, grateful for what I’m living and the opportunities I’ve had. I have many talented friends who deserve a chance in Formula 1 and would do anything to be in my position today, which I think about often. It pushes me to work hard and give my best in everything to make the most of this opportunity.”
These aren’t mere words: just look at Gabriel’s expression whenever he gets ready to hit the track. His goal is the same as every driver’s — to work hard and always do his best — but there’s a voice inside him that allows him to fully enjoy what he does.
It may sound obvious, but it’s increasingly rare. When a young driver enters the Formula 1 paddock, they face, consciously or not, the risk of being overwhelmed by the system. Initial enthusiasm often fades quickly, and the smile can disappear after just a few races.
That is not the case with Bortoleto. “I love being here. I’ve dreamed all my life of doing what I’m doing now. I’m lucky to be one of the twenty drivers competing in the Formula 1 World Championship. Of course, I have my goals and dreams, and I’m determined to achieve them. That gives me the energy to keep pushing forward and give my all. I’m doing something I love, and I believe the best part of achieving a goal is the journey — living day by day to turn a dream into reality.”
At age twelve, he left Brazil for Desenzano del Garda in Italy, progressing through karting and then moving to single-seaters — a path not without obstacles. “There were tough moments. In 2022, my second season in Formula Regional, I faced several engine problems, but these issues were never made public. That time made me realize I had to roll up my sleeves and recover ground wherever possible. Excuses didn’t make sense. Looking back now, that situation made me a stronger driver and person. I focused all my energy on improving what I could and gaining tenths where possible, and I believe I grew. The confirmation came once the technical problems were fixed.”
“Once everything was resolved, I started winning. The end of the season was very good. But the biggest confirmation came in my first-ever test in a Formula 3 car. I went to Jerez with the Trident team, having never driven a car with that power before. It was my very first time, and I ended up leading by half a second over the closest competitor. Everything came naturally — the feel for the car, the relationship with the engineers — and that day I knew I could do very well, which I later proved by winning the championship.”
The importance of 2022 in Bortoleto’s career is also marked by Fernando Alonso’s arrival as part of his management team. “Fernando came into the picture in mid-2022, and it was a very important step, a huge added value. In 2023, I raced in Formula 3 and competed on Formula 1 weekends for the first time. When I entered the circuit for the first time, I realized I’d be racing in front of all the major F1 teams, so I asked Fernando for advice on managing race weekends, pressure, expectations, and many other things. People think someone as busy as Alonso wouldn’t have time, but I can confirm he always found it — sometimes sacrificing his own breaks — and I find this availability very valuable.”
From McLaren to Sauber, through success in Formula 2
Winning accelerates progress, and suddenly Bortoleto became one of the young talents to watch closely. “After a strong start to the 2023 season, winning the first two feature races, I received a call from Emanuele Pirro. I had worked in F4 with his son Goffredo, who was my engineer, but I’d never met Emanuele nor knew about his role at McLaren as head of the young driver program. I clearly remember the call and was really surprised. Emanuele turned out to be a great person. It took some time to finalize the contract, but I became the first official driver in the McLaren program.”
Gabriel kept winning, probably catching McLaren off guard, as last autumn the team found itself with a Formula 2 champion under contract but no seat available soon. “McLaren has always been transparent with me. They made it clear they wouldn’t block me if I had a chance to race in Formula 1. After my Formula 2 win, they had no available seat — Oscar and Lando are young, strong, and have long contracts. When they learned about the Sauber opportunity, they kept their word and released me.”
Thus came a big opportunity. Mattia Binotto noticed Bortoleto; 2025 will be a transition year ahead of Audi’s official involvement, an ideal scenario to debut a young driver. Gabriel secured the last free seat after a driver market filled with changes and the arrival of four rookies.
On paper, the risk of struggling is real, and the start of the season confirmed this forecast. “The season start was tough. Inside the team, my contribution has always been positively evaluated, but coming from winning two championships, finding myself fighting at the back was mentally hard to accept. Ambition is tough to control, but race after race, the situation improved a lot, and I found myself in the top 10 — a great feeling!”
As Sauber improves, so does Bortoleto. The environment is ideal: low pressure, modest expectations, and a positive team atmosphere. “I’m confident. I believe we have a good car. Maybe we won’t score points on every track, but I think we’ll fight for them most of the time. Compared to the start of the season, we’ve made a big step forward. There were times when we were last on the grid, but now things have improved significantly.”
With the first results came increased attention revealing the man behind the driver. The public has seen his enthusiasm and genuine joy in driving a Formula 1 car and being where he’s always dreamed of.
His happiness was also evident seeing teammate Nico Hülkenberg reach a historic milestone at Silverstone by finishing on the podium after 239 Grands Prix. Gabriel was there celebrating too. “Nico is a great person and a great driver. When he finished third at Silverstone, it was emotional. He’s helping me a lot; I’ve learned and continue learning from him. When you have a good relationship with someone, it’s natural to share their joy, so it felt right to celebrate with him under the podium.”
“He raced a great race, made the right decisions, and deserved the result. I wanted to be there to celebrate with him. Seeing Nico lift the trophy made me say, ‘Alright, I’ll give my all; I want to be there too.’ That image motivated me.”
The 2022 experience shaped Bortoleto’s character. He started his first F1 season with fewer testing kilometers than any other rookie, but he doesn’t dwell on that unless asked. “Before this season, I had done half a day of testing with McLaren as a reward after winning in Monza, and post-season tests at Yas Marina when I was already a Sauber driver. This year, TPC car testing kilometers were limited; I did one test day but it rained, so it was wet conditions.”
“Overall, I started the season with just two days of testing. More kilometers would have made me more ready and prepared, but that’s how it was in Formula 2 and Formula 3 too. In the end, there are no excuses; you have to do your best with what you have.”
The media have also discovered his friendship with Max Verstappen. When they meet in the paddock, there’s always time for a hug and some chat. On Sunday driver parades, they are often together, sharing fun moments. “Our friendship started through a shared passion for virtual racing and simulators. We began early in 2023, during my first Formula 3 season. Max helped me a lot with the simulator, suggesting what to try and changes to make. We meet online — he at home, me at mine — play, discuss… a bit of everything.”
In a Formula 1 environment increasingly attentive to drivers’ families, another unique aspect of Bortoleto emerges. On race weekends, he is usually accompanied by his performance coach and manager; only rarely does anyone else join his close circle. “My parents would love to follow me to races, but they are very busy in Brazil. My father runs the Stock Car Championship and has a lot on his plate. This year, we introduced a new car, so there’s a lot of work. Drivers like Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa race in the series.”
“My father has always been a passionate motorsport fan but started from scratch without financial means. When the Formula 1 Grand Prix was in Interlagos, he helped VIPs get off helicopters and escorted them to the paddock entrance — a way to be at the track since he couldn’t afford grandstand tickets. He passed his passion to me. We took our first steps in karting with a dream that seemed unreachable, but now his son races in Formula 1. I hope he can come to a race for the first time soon.”
After living in Milan from 2023 to 2024 (sharing a place with Rafael Camara), Bortoleto moved to Monaco. “Unfortunately, free time is limited. Besides race weekends, I enjoy spending time with the team at Hinwil. I think it’s important, especially as a rookie, to learn and familiarize myself with many aspects.”
The journey is long, but a key milestone is already achieved. He was the least observed rookie entering his first F1 season, but after 14 Grands Prix, he became a major point of interest following three top-10 finishes in the last four races.
All this leads into 2026, when regardless of technical hierarchies, Bortoleto will be officially confirmed as Audi F1’s project driver. “It’s hard, maybe impossible, to predict. We won’t know where we stand until testing begins. We must be ready to fight for podiums or points — we’ll see.”
He faces all this with a smile, proving it’s possible to work hard without forgetting one’s roots or taking for granted the privilege of being in such an exclusive club with only twenty members. In this respect, Bortoleto is already a valuable asset to Formula 1, but it feels like his story is only just beginning.
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