Gabriel Bortoleto has never hidden his admiration for Ayrton Senna and, even at the end of his first season in Formula 1, reflected on the profound impact the Brazilian legend continues to have on his racing career.
As a fellow Brazilian, three-time F1 world champion Ayrton Senna is naturally the undisputed hero of Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto, despite the decades separating their respective eras in Formula 1 and the fact that the 21-year-old never saw him race live, only through old videos. Nevertheless, Gabriel is surrounded by two other F1 greats: two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who also serves as his manager, and four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who has become a close friend.
Speaking to RacingNews365, Gabriel Bortoleto said: “I’ve already thought about it, and it would be amazing, I wish he were here. Naturally, I would have loved to meet him in some way and talk with him. It would have been fantastic; he is my hero, but sometimes in life you can’t have everything.” Touchingly, he added: “Maybe one day I’ll meet him somewhere else.”
Despite never meeting Senna in person, the young Brazilian has still managed to learn from him over the years, not only by watching videos but also by speaking with people who were close to Ayrton at the time. When asked specifically what he had learned, Gabriel Bortoleto described four key aspects of Senna’s character that have personally guided him: “Discipline, dedication, intelligence, and the fact that he was a fantastic person off the track. Considering all these elements, it’s clear that they were what made him the driver he was.”
“This is what I learned from him, not just as a driver on track, but also how great he was with people off the track. One of the things I have tried to do myself, and that many journalists have mentioned, is that he would try to explain to them how he felt in the car, to help them understand, which is quite interesting.”
Addressing the journalist directly, Gabriel Bortoleto concluded: “It’s not an easy job what you do to share with the world what we drivers do, so I think it’s a positive thing. And I’ve heard from many people that he was very good at this. He would try to explain to them and help them understand what he was doing on track. All of this made him a legend, a great driver, and a man who was able to build a legacy that will last for decades and decades, forever.”
As Gabriel Bortoleto continues his journey with Audi into the 2026 season, these values of communication and dedication will be vital. By bridging the gap between the golden era of Brazilian racing and the modern technical age, Bortoleto aims to carry the torch for a nation that still views Senna as the ultimate benchmark of sporting excellence.
Leave a Reply