GabrielBortoleto

Early Career and Junior Series Ascent

Gabriel Lourenzo "Gabi" Bortoleto Oliveira, born on October 14, 2004, in Osasco, Brazil, embarked on his racing journey at a young age, influenced by a family deeply rooted in motorsport. His father, Lincoln Oliveira, is the CEO and co-owner of the Stock Car Pro Series in Brazil, and the family also operates KTF Sports, a team involved in both Stock Car and kart racing. Bortoleto began competitive karting in 2011, moving to Europe at the age of eleven to further his career. His karting tenure, which lasted until 2019, saw significant success in 2018, where he secured third place in both the European and World Championships in the OK-Junior category, alongside vice-champion titles in the WSK Super Master Series and the Andrea Margutti Trophy. Bortoleto transitioned to single-seater racing in 2020, making his debut in the Italian F4 Championship with Prema Powerteam. He quickly demonstrated his potential, achieving his first podium and victory at Mugello during the fourth round of the season. Two additional podium finishes at Monza contributed to a fifth-place overall finish in the championship, and fourth in the rookies' standings. His progression continued into the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA). In 2021, driving for FA Racing, he scored points in his debut race at Imola and secured his first FRECA podium at the Red Bull Ring, finishing the season 15th. The 2022 season, competing with R-ace GP, marked a significant step forward. After a partial campaign in the Formula Regional Asian Championship where he claimed a win at Yas Marina, Bortoleto secured two victories in FRECA – one inherited at Spa-Francorchamps and another outright win at Barcelona. Despite facing engine issues at times, he concluded the season in sixth place overall.

Championship Dominance in FIA F3 and F2

Bortoleto’s talent truly shone in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2023, where he joined Trident. His season began with immediate impact, securing a feature race victory in Bahrain after a penalty to the initial winner, despite a prior collision penalty in the sprint. He followed this with pole position and a second consecutive feature race win at Albert Park, establishing an early championship lead. Consistently scoring points across the subsequent five rounds, including a second place in the Red Bull Ring feature race and two runner-up finishes in sprint races at Britain and Hungary, Bortoleto maintained a comfortable advantage. Even a challenging weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, marked by a weak qualifying and a race-ending contact, did not derail his title aspirations, as his rivals also struggled. He ultimately clinched the FIA Formula 3 championship on Friday during the Monza qualifying session, a testament to his consistent performance and strategic accumulation of points. His achievements were recognized with the Aramco Best Rookie Award in 2023. The momentum carried into 2024 as Bortoleto advanced to the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Invicta Racing. His rookie F2 season was characterized by resilience and standout performances. He started strong in Bahrain, qualifying second and being promoted to pole, securing points in both races despite an early feature race incident. After a challenging period with retirements in Jeddah and Melbourne due to mechanical failures and collisions, Bortoleto rebounded emphatically. He secured pole position at Imola, followed by his maiden F2 podium with a second-place finish in the feature race. Monaco brought another sprint race podium, finishing second from a reverse-grid start. The Austrian round proved pivotal, where Bortoleto, starting fourth, climbed to fourth in the sprint and then secured his maiden F2 victory in the feature race, overtaking race leader Joshua Dürksen and later Paul Aron. This win propelled him into the top three of the championship standings. However, his season was not without setbacks, including a demotion at Silverstone for an off-track overtake and a challenging sprint race in Budapest due to tyre wear. His most remarkable performance came at Monza, where, after spinning in qualifying and starting both races from last place, he executed an extraordinary last-to-first victory in the feature race. Benefiting from a timely safety car, he became the first driver in either Formula 2 or Formula One to win from the very back of the grid, an achievement that earned him the Mecachrome Outstanding Win Award. This result significantly closed the championship gap to Isack Hadjar. Bortoleto then took the championship lead in Baku, maintaining it through a tense Qatar round where a penalty for a pit entry line violation cost him a feature race win. The season culminated in Abu Dhabi, where Bortoleto, starting second, secured a second-place finish in the feature race after Hadjar stalled on the grid, sealing the FIA Formula 2 championship title. He became only the seventh driver in history to win the GP2/Formula 2 title in their rookie season, and the fourth to win both the FIA F3 and F2 titles in successive years, joining an elite group including Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri. He was also the second Brazilian to win the F2 title. His exceptional 2024 season was further acknowledged with the FIA Rookie of the Year and Anthoine Hubert Award.

Formula 1 Debut and Formative Years

Bortoleto's journey to Formula 1 was carefully managed, notably by A14 Management, Fernando Alonso's driver management firm, which he joined in September 2022. Following his FIA Formula 3 triumph, he was integrated into the McLaren Driver Development Programme in October 2023, completing his first Formula 1 test in a McLaren MCL36 at the Red Bull Ring in September 2024. His impressive junior career garnered significant attention, with Sauber Motorsport COO and CTO Mattia Binotto identifying him as a strong contender for a 2025 seat. Endorsements from three-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen and race winner Oscar Piastri further highlighted his potential, with Piastri specifically hoping Bortoleto would avoid the delay he experienced in securing an F1 seat after his F2 title. McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella also publicly supported Bortoleto's move to Sauber, if the opportunity arose. In 2025, Bortoleto officially joined Sauber, signing a multi-year deal that extends beyond the 2026 regulation changes when the team transitions to Audi. This move saw him partner Nico Hülkenberg and necessitated his release from the McLaren Driver Development Programme. His Formula 1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix was notable, as he progressed to the second qualifying session, outqualifying his experienced teammate Hülkenberg, though his race ended prematurely with a crash in changing conditions. The early part of his rookie F1 season presented a steep learning curve. In China, he finished 19th in the sprint after a collision and 14th in the main race following an early spin. He recorded 19th in Japan and 18th in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, describing the Sauber C45 as "undriveable" in Bahrain. A fuel system issue forced his retirement from the Miami Grand Prix while running 13th, after securing 15th in the sprint. Incidents at Imola and Monaco, including a first-lap collision that dropped him to last in Monaco, further highlighted the challenges of adapting to Formula 1. However, mid-season upgrades to the Sauber C45 marked a turning point. At the Spanish Grand Prix, Bortoleto qualified and finished 12th, signaling improved competitiveness. His breakthrough moment arrived at the Austrian Grand Prix, where he qualified eighth and maintained that position to secure his maiden Formula 1 points, challenging Fernando Alonso for seventh in the closing stages. This achievement made him the first Brazilian to score points in Formula 1 since 2017. He continued to demonstrate his adaptability and race craft, securing ninth place in both the sprint and main race at the wet-dry Belgian Grand Prix. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, he qualified an impressive seventh and converted it into a sixth-place finish, holding off Lance Stroll, a performance attributed in part to his dedication in adjusting his setup with engineers past curfew on Friday. Despite a challenging Dutch Grand Prix, he bounced back in Italy, qualifying seventh and finishing eighth. His home Grand Prix weekend in São Paulo was marred by a significant 57g crash in the sprint race while battling Alexander Albon, forcing him to miss qualifying and ultimately leading to an early retirement in the main race after contact. Bortoleto is contracted to remain with Audi until at least the end of the 2026 season, solidifying his long-term presence in Formula 1.

Legacy and Recognition

Gabriel Bortoleto's rapid ascent through the junior categories, culminating in back-to-back FIA F3 and F2 championships, positions him as one of the most promising talents to enter Formula 1 in recent years. His ability to perform under pressure, demonstrated by his last-to-first victory in Monza F2 and his maiden F1 points finish, underscores a determined and skillful approach to racing. Beyond the track, Bortoleto has also begun to establish his brand, launching a collection in partnership with Barthelemy in November 2025, featuring elements from his time with Trident, Invicta, and Sauber. His career, supported by significant figures like Fernando Alonso and endorsed by current F1 champions, points towards a potentially impactful future in the sport.