Gabriel Bortoleto: Brazil’s Latest F1 Star Making Waves in Rookie Season
A Meteoric Rise to Formula 1
Gabriel Bortoleto’s journey began in Osasco, Brazil, where he started karting at age seven. Under the mentorship of two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso, he quickly proved his talent by winning races in Italian F4 and Formula Regional European, before claiming the 2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship with Trident.
His success continued into 2024, where he achieved a remarkable feat by winning the Formula 2 championship in his rookie season with Invicta, becoming just the seventh driver in history to win the GP2/Formula 2 title as a rookie. Most impressively, he made history at Monza by becoming the first driver ever to win from last place on the grid in either Formula 2 or Formula One. This achievement puts him in elite company, joining Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri as drivers who won F3 and F2 titles in consecutive years.
2025 Formula 1 Season
For the 2025 season, Bortoleto secured a place in Formula 1 with Sauber, partnering with veteran driver Nico Hulkenberg. The deal is particularly significant as it extends beyond the team’s upcoming transition to Audi in 2026.
In his rookie Formula 1 season, Bortoleto has already shown impressive potential, particularly in qualifying where he has consistently demonstrated strong single-lap pace, regularly matching or outperforming his experienced teammate Hulkenberg. He has frequently qualified ahead of Hulkenberg or finished just hundredths of a second behind.
Recent Achievements
Bortoleto’s progress was particularly evident at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he achieved his career-best result. Starting from seventh on the grid, he expertly managed his tyres on a one-stop strategy to secure sixth place, earning Driver of the Day honors.
His talent hasn’t gone unnoticed by his peers, with three-time World Champion Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri both publicly endorsing his abilities. Piastri, drawing from his own experience, particularly advocated for Bortoleto’s immediate promotion to Formula 1.
