Gabriel Bortoleto targets first F1 points after strong Austrian qualifying: “Everything is starting to work”. Gabriel Bortoleto reaches Q3 for the first time in Austria and targets his first F1 points.

At the end of one of the most exciting qualifying sessions of the year, Gabriel Bortoleto secured his first-ever Q3 appearance in Formula 1. It’s a remarkable result that highlights the Brazilian rookie’s steady progress in recent months.

He qualified eighth, clearly ahead of his teammate Nico Hulkenberg, who usually has the upper hand in qualifying. Even Andrea Kimi Antonelli, another highly rated rookie with a much more competitive car, finished behind Gabriel.

This performance is a major statement and shows the raw talent of the reigning Formula 2 champion. Now, only one goal remains: Gabriel Bortoleto is among the few drivers yet to score points this season, but after this strong qualifying, he finally has a real chance to do so in Austria. He confirmed this in a recent interview, expressing his determination to seize the opportunity at Spielberg.

Gabriel Bortoleto’s words
“I feel this track is very special for me,” said the young Sauber driver, who took his first F2 win at the Red Bull Ring a year ago. “I’m gaining more experience with the car, with the team, and with the category. It’s only the beginning; I’m not even halfway through the season. I’ve worked hard to understand what I need, both personally and technically, and I feel more and more comfortable. I now know what I need even before the weekend starts. This is the first weekend I’ve felt truly at ease since FP1. Everything seems to be starting to click, and we’re heading in the right direction.”

“I’m feeling more confident behind the wheel, not just because of the upgrades, but also due to the greater awareness I’ve developed. At the start of the season, every FP1 was unpredictable. You didn’t know how the car would react. But over time, you learn to understand it, push it to the limit from the start, and focus more on driving and setup. I think we made that step this weekend. Starting position doesn’t change much. At the start, I’ll try to get the best launch and gain positions. If not, I’ll try to hold my place and manage the pace to finish in the points.”

“Obviously, it makes no sense to fight drivers with far superior pace. But I’m a racer—I’ll try to gain positions in the early laps and then we’ll see. I won’t focus on overtaking guys like Verstappen who are out of reach; that just ruins the tyres. I’ll focus on battling drivers who are genuinely within our reach.”