Introducing F1’s new rookies: Gabriel Bortoleto, aiming to be Brazil’s next Senna

Within the first of a brand new mini-series the place Motorsport.com is delving into the burgeoning System 1 careers of the six 2025 rookies, at the moment we’re introducing new Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto.

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

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

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

Bortoleto’s household have appreciable wealth, together with his father Lincoln Oliveira getting wealthy in Brazil’s telecommunications trade 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 approach 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 current tie to the highest of the only 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 yr’s F3 title – taking two wins and one pole within the course of.

He produced comparable 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 skill to carry dwelling constant factors when his title rivals floundered by 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 may 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 yr, calling him “humble” and “at no level conceited” – 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 method in comparison with his former race engineer.

“I do know there are loads of talks in regards to the younger technology – loads of rookies additionally subsequent yr, very gifted all of them – however one of the best is Gabriel,” the Aston Martin driver stated on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix final yr. “He confirmed it on monitor with the identical automobiles.”

When requested by Motorsport.com how he would select to introduce himself to F1 followers on the latest F175 Reside 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 Workforce

“To illustrate, after I’m on monitor or after I’m round cameras or no matter, I attempt to be who I’m. Who I all the time was. You’ll be able to say I attempt to be humorous… (“However you’re 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 imagine I attempt to work very laborious to attain each dream I had. It was the identical in System 3 and System 2. I work very laborious to attain the championships.

“Numerous days. Doing simulator work with the staff. Spending time with engineers. So, I do not suppose the method might be completely different in System 1. That is just a little bit how I describe myself. However we’ll see this season. You will notice and I need not let you know as a result of it is even tough for myself to discuss me.”

Hulkenberg felt he and Bortoleto bonded nicely 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.

However, Hulkenberg stated 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 one of the crucial unprepared F1 rookies ever when it comes to mileage in older equipment mixed with restricted pre-season check operating, went down nicely when it comes to the teenager exhibiting a mature character.

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Pictures

Bortoleto now enters F1 with the burden of a motorsport-mad nation behind him. He’s nicely conscious of the response granted to Argentina’s Franco Colapinto surprising and memorable F1 run final yr, 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 sturdy outcomes towards a driver as wonderful as Hulkenberg may very well be the making of an extended profession on the prime stage.

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