Introducing F1’s rookies: How Bortoleto aims to inspire like a previous Brazilian hero

Within the first of a brand new mini-series the place Autosport is delving into the burgeoning Formulation 1 careers of the six 2025 rookies, immediately we’re introducing new Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto.

The 20-year-old hails from Sao Paulo and has already constructed a powerful junior motorsport profession.

Like Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Oscar Piastri earlier than him, Bortoleto arrives on the high tier having received back-to-back Formulation 3 (referred to as GP3 when Leclerc and Russell received this title) and Formulation 2 championships on the first try.

Earlier than then, he produced first rate returns in Italian Formulation 4 and the Formulation Regional European championship after shifting to Italy aged 13 along with his coach Francesco di Mauro.

Bortoleto’s household have appreciable wealth, along with his father Lincoln Oliveira getting wealthy in Brazil’s telecommunications business within the Nineties. They’re understood to have had shut hyperlinks with Brazil’s most up-to-date debuting F1 driver, Felipe Nasr, on his manner up the single-seater ranks earlier than making his personal F1 bow with Sauber again in 2015.

However that’s removed from Bortoleto’s solely present tie to the highest of the single-seater ladder, as he has been managed by Fernando Alonso’s A14 firm since 2023.

A14 helped to safe his berth with the Trident staff with which Bortoleto went on to win that 12 months’s F3 title – taking two wins and one pole within the course of.

He produced related numbers in profitable the 2024 F2 title with the Invicta squad (two wins, two poles), however what set him aside in each profitable campaigns was his capacity to convey dwelling constant factors when his title rivals floundered by way of numerous phases.

By 2024, Bortoleto had joined the books at McLaren, which agreed to release him from his junior driver status to go to Sauber when the soon-to-be Audi squad came calling as 2024 concluded. McLaren can have no F1 seat openings till the top of 2026 on the earliest and Bortoleto had nowhere additional to progress up the ladder.

McLaren staff boss Andrea Stella spoke warmly of Bortoleto’s achievements final 12 months, calling him “humble” and “at no level smug” – even when the 2024 F2 season began off with a wrestle to adapt to the championship’s new spec automotive.

Alonso took a usually extra bombastic strategy in comparison with his former race engineer.

“I do know there are a number of talks in regards to the younger technology – a number of rookies additionally subsequent 12 months, very gifted all of them – however the very best is Gabriel,” the Aston Martin driver mentioned on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix final 12 months. “He confirmed it on observe with the identical vehicles.”

When requested by Autosport how he would select to introduce himself to F1 followers on the current F175 Dwell occasion in London, Bortoleto replied: “I do not know. I attempt to be myself as a lot as I can. I do not attempt to be completely different.

Gabriel Bortoleto, Kick Sauber C45

Photograph by: Sauber F1 Staff

“As an example, after I’m on observe or after I’m round cameras or no matter, I attempt to be who I’m. Who I all the time was. You possibly can say I attempt to be humorous… (“However you might be very humorous,” interjected new Sauber team-mate Nico Hulkenberg) Thanks. I do not know. I simply attempt to be like this.

“And within the automotive, I consider I attempt to work very onerous to attain each dream I had. It was the identical in Formulation 3 and Formulation 2. I work very onerous to attain the championships.

“A number of days. Doing simulator work with the staff. Spending time with engineers. So, I do not assume the strategy will probably be completely different in Formulation 1. That is somewhat bit how I describe myself. However we are going to see this season. You will note and I need not inform you as a result of it is even tough for myself to talk about me.”

Hulkenberg felt he and Bortoleto bonded properly throughout their preliminary sponsor commitments collectively within the low season, forward of what’s anticipated to be a tough marketing campaign for the Sauber squad.

Nonetheless, Hulkenberg mentioned Bortoleto had been “quick as hell” in Bahrain testing final month, the place he additionally highlighted his team-mate’s skills as a quick learner.

Elsewhere within the paddock at that occasion, Bortoleto’s willingness to criticise the adjustments to Testing of Earlier Automobiles guidelines for 2025, which successfully make him some of the unprepared F1 rookies ever when it comes to mileage in older equipment mixed with restricted pre-season check working, went down properly when it comes to the teenager exhibiting a mature character.

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photos

Bortoleto now enters F1 with the burden of a motorsport-mad nation behind him. He’s properly conscious of the response granted to Argentina’s Franco Colapinto surprising and memorable F1 run final 12 months, which in flip raises expectations on what he may obtain in 2025.

Sauber’s probably struggles to flee Q1 on tempo means he could make the anticipated rookie errors away from the strongest glare of the F1 media highlight, however robust outcomes in opposition to a driver as glorious as Hulkenberg could possibly be the making of a protracted profession on the high degree.

Bortoleto arrives as a rich younger racing driver trying to encourage Brazil by way of his charming character and racing pace. As an Ayrton Senna-like story goes, it’s already off to a strong begin…