The new F2 champion
At McLaren, celebrations continue for their Constructors’ Championship victory, their first since 1998. However, another emotional moment took place in Woking even before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: on the Yas Marina circuit, Gabriel Bortoleto, a Brazilian driver who joined the McLaren Young Driver Programme this year, claimed the Formula 2 championship title. Entering the feeder series as a rookie, Gabriel Bortoleto had already won the Formula 3 championship in 2023, also as a rookie.
Two consecutive titles in two different categories as a rookie—an achievement previously accomplished only by Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri. Now, the 20-year-old from São Paulo is preparing for his Formula 1 adventure with Sauber in 2025: “Winning F3 in my first year was a dream, and now F2 as well,” he told Sky Sport F1. “It’s also a dream to step into F1 with these two titles, just like other drivers who won F2 in their rookie year. These are drivers who have always inspired me, and it’s an honor to join their ranks. I hope I can achieve similar success in F1.”
The F1 mission
Formula 1 is now within reach for the Brazilian, who will begin working with the team tomorrow to familiarize himself with the car ahead of the Abu Dhabi tests: “Right now, I’m enjoying this moment with my family, but tomorrow I’ll already be on the track to start preparing for Tuesday’s program and to get accustomed to the steering wheel, which is quite different from the F2 car. The most important thing is to start learning and improving for 2025 because everything in F1 is different. It’s still a four-wheel car that you push to the limit, but the commitment required is immense, as is the time you need to spend with the team. This winter will be crucial for that, spending as much time as possible with the team.”
The importance of McLaren
Gabriel Bortoleto concluded by thanking McLaren, whose Young Driver Programme helped him secure the championship: “McLaren has been essential for me,” he said. “If they hadn’t taken me in, I wouldn’t be here today as an F2 champion. They helped me a lot; we put in so much effort and started the season with many difficulties, including two consecutive races without points. Then, there was a shift in mentality because I was focusing on the wrong things. It was also crucial to be close to an F1 team; I did many simulator sessions and talked to engineers, which gave me the right mindset. From there, I scored a lot of points, with many races in the points and on the podium. It’s been a very positive journey.”
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