Gabriel Bortoleto secures a place in Q3 with a strong comeback at a crucial moment.
Brazilian racing driver Gabriel Bortoleto fought his way into Q3 at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, sealing a valuable tenth-place finish in a qualifying session full of dramatic twists, strategic missteps, and rapid recoveries. After a troubled Q1, during which both driving errors and questionable strategic choices nearly cost him a spot in the top 15, the rookie showed impressive composure and maturity under pressure.
The driver from the VCARB team admitted to feeling frustrated during the early stages of qualifying, knowing that the car had the pace to compete but unable to fully capitalize on it due to a combination of his own mistakes and misaligned decisions from the pit wall.
“I was very frustrated because I knew the potential of the car was there,” Gabriel Bortoleto explained after the session. “We made some decisions that didn’t work out, and I made a couple of mistakes during my second run. In such a tight grid, even the smallest misstep can cost you everything.”
The turning point came when Gabriel Bortoleto was informed via team radio that Lewis Hamilton had one of his lap times deleted for exceeding track limits. That radio message, he said, snapped him into focus.
“In that moment, I told myself: now I have to put everything together. I cleared my mind, focused entirely, and delivered a great lap. We made it through.”
Once into Q3, however, Gabriel Bortoleto’s prospects were somewhat limited. The Brazilian only had one used set of soft tyres remaining, putting him at a disadvantage against rivals who had fresh rubber.
“I knew it was impossible to fight with those on new tyres, but I still wanted to put a lap on the board—just in case someone ahead missed their chance. You never know what can happen.”
As for his outlook on the race, Gabriel Bortoleto acknowledged that the VCARB car appears to have competitive race pace, even if it still trails slightly behind teammates like Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar.
“Our race pace is solid, even if we are lacking a little bit compared to Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar. One tenth more from the balance could make a huge difference. We’re close.”
With unpredictable weather conditions expected for Sunday’s main event, the 19-year-old said he is ready for anything, including the possibility of racing in the rain.
“I don’t have much experience in wet conditions in Formula 1, but if it rains, I’ll treat it as an opportunity. Sooner or later, you have to face those conditions, and I’ll embrace the challenge when it comes.”
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