Gabriel Bortoleto

Gabriel Bortoleto was born on 14 October 2004. Growing up in São Paulo, he followed the traditional route through karting and the junior single-seater categories, but completed the decisive part of his journey in an unusually short time. He won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles in consecutive seasons, both as a rookie. Those results opened the door to the highest level of motorsport.

Beginnings in Brazil and the move to Europe

Bortoleto grew up in São Paulo and became involved in motorsport as a child. He started karting at around seven or eight years old, initially racing in Brazil. What began as a hobby soon became a serious sporting pursuit.

At around the age of eleven, he moved to Europe to continue his career in the far more competitive world of international karting. For the young driver, that meant separation from his family and adapting early to life far from home. Bortoleto later repeatedly stressed the importance of his parents' support, which made the early stages of his career possible and extended to backing his decision to continue in Europe.

In karting, he began competing against several drivers he would later encounter in single-seater racing. Among his most significant karting results was third place in the FIA European Championship's OK-Junior category in 2018. He also finished third at world championship level in the same category. Even then, he was among the most successful young drivers of his generation.

The first step into single-seaters

In 2020, he left karting behind and made his single-seater debut. He entered the Italian Formula 4 Championship with PREMA Racing, long established as one of Europe's most successful junior teams.

Despite it being his first season in car racing, he was regularly able to fight at the front. He claimed four podium finishes and took his first single-seater victory at Mugello. He ended the season fifth in the standings.

Even at this stage, he showed one of the qualities that would later become a hallmark of his career: the ability to adapt quickly when moving up a category.

Formula Regional and an important learning period

After just one season in Formula 4, Bortoleto stepped up to the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine. In 2021, he raced for FA Racing, a team associated with Fernando Alonso.

His first season in a more powerful car proved more demanding. Bortoleto gained experience, with second place at the Red Bull Ring among his best results. He finished 15th in the standings.

He moved to R-ace GP for the following season. The 2022 campaign brought a significant step forward. Bortoleto won twice, taking victories at Spa-Francorchamps and Barcelona-Catalunya, added further podium finishes and ended the season sixth in the championship.

This period was important beyond the results themselves. Bortoleto signed with A14 Management, the company associated with two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso. The Spanish driver became an influential figure in shaping the next stages of his career.

Bortoleto has said on several occasions that he learned from Alonso not only about driving itself, but also about preparation, competitiveness and the day-to-day work of a professional racing driver.

Formula 3 champion at the first attempt

The 2023 season proved to be his breakthrough. Bortoleto moved up to the FIA Formula 3 Championship and signed with Trident.

He made an immediate winning start in his new category. He won the opening feature race of the season in Bahrain and added another victory at the following round in Melbourne. Rather than relying on a series of high-risk performances, he built his title challenge primarily on consistency.

During the season, he put together a run of 13 consecutive points finishes and maintained control at the top of the championship for virtually the entire year. He secured the title during the final round at Monza.

He ended his rookie Formula 3 season with two wins, six podiums and 15 points finishes from 18 races. He also became the first Brazilian to win the title in the modern incarnation of the FIA Formula 3 Championship.

That success had an immediate impact on his career. McLaren signed him to its driver development programme. Another notable aspect of Bortoleto's title success was that he had entered Formula 3 without belonging to a major F1 team's driver academy.

Formula 2 and one of the most important years of his career

In 2024, Bortoleto stepped up to FIA Formula 2 with Invicta Racing. Once again, he was a rookie, and this time the competition was even stronger.

He took pole position at the opening round in Bahrain. Several podium finishes followed, before his first victory came in the feature race at the Red Bull Ring.

Monza then provided one of the defining moments of his entire junior career. After a difficult qualifying session, he started the feature race from last place, 22nd on the grid. Through a combination of pace, strategy and overtaking, however, he worked his way through the entire field to win.

The result was all the more remarkable given that Bortoleto already had experience of similar recoveries at Monza in Formula 4, where he had previously climbed from 25th to second.

In the closing stages of the season, his main title rival was Isack Hadjar. The championship was only decided at the final round in Abu Dhabi. Bortoleto finished second in the final feature race to become Formula 2 champion.

In two years, he had therefore won the two most important junior single-seater titles — FIA Formula 3 in 2023 and FIA Formula 2 in 2024 — both as a rookie. That placed him among a small group of modern-era drivers to have made a similarly successful progression through the two leading junior categories in consecutive seasons.

His performances in 2024 also earned him the FIA Rookie of the Year award.

McLaren and his first experience of a Formula 1 car

Membership of McLaren's development programme gave Bortoleto his first opportunity to work directly with a Formula 1 team. During 2024, he tested an older McLaren car, gaining his first real experience of machinery from motorsport's top category.

His Formula 2 performances also attracted another team's attention. Sauber was putting together its driver line-up for the coming years while preparing to become the Audi works team.

With McLaren's Formula 1 line-up settled for the long term, the team allowed Bortoleto to leave its programme and take up the offer of a full-time seat with a rival.

The Formula 1 dream comes true

In November 2024, it was officially confirmed that Gabriel Bortoleto would race for Kick Sauber from the 2025 season. The experienced Nico Hülkenberg became his team-mate.

He secured his Formula 1 contract before clinching the Formula 2 title, underlining the reputation he had built over two exceptionally successful junior seasons.

After the F2 season ended, he completed his first official test with Sauber in Abu Dhabi and began preparing for his first full season at the highest level.

His arrival was also highly significant for Brazil. After years without a full-time Brazilian driver on the grid, Bortoleto became the first Brazilian to secure a full-time Formula 1 seat since Felipe Massa's final season in 2017.

During his rookie season, he scored points on several occasions, with sixth place his best result. He also gained experience alongside Hülkenberg, who was among the most experienced drivers on the grid when Bortoleto made his debut.

Another significant step in his career came in 2026, when Sauber completed its transformation into the Audi works team. Bortoleto therefore had the opportunity to continue in Formula 1 as part of a new project involving one of the world's most prominent car manufacturers.

Ayrton Senna, Fernando Alonso and racing role models

As a Brazilian racing driver, Bortoleto grew up in an environment where Ayrton Senna's name holds a special place. He describes Senna as one of his greatest sporting inspirations and also associates him with his childhood dream of one day reaching Formula 1.

While Senna was a role model from the past, Fernando Alonso had a direct, practical influence on Bortoleto's career. Through A14 Management, he helped guide his next steps, while Bortoleto had the opportunity to observe how the two-time world champion prepares and works.

Among athletes outside motorsport, Bortoleto has also publicly mentioned Michael Jordan, whom he admires for his achievements and dominance in basketball.

Sim racing for training and leisure

Motorsport remains a major part of Bortoleto's life away from the real-world circuit. He is among the drivers who devote considerable time to simulators and view sim racing as more than just entertainment.

He uses his home simulator even immediately after race weekends. By his own account, it allows him to analyse situations that are still fresh in his memory, try different approaches and spend time doing something he enjoys.

He was already making extensive use of sim racing during his junior career. He also raced with professional sim racers, pointing out that specialists in virtual racing could teach him techniques he could apply to his own driving.

Among the drivers he has encountered in the virtual world is Max Verstappen, who is well known for his interest in sim racing.

Life away from racing

Although racing and training occupy much of his life, Bortoleto has several other interests. He has spoken publicly about enjoying time with family and friends, as well as cooking. In particular, he has mentioned simple, traditional Brazilian dishes that he prepares for shared lunches or dinners.

Padel is among the sports he plays away from single-seater racing. Even so, it is primarily a supplementary activity alongside his fitness training and motorsport commitments.

He continues to describe São Paulo as home. Despite spending much of his childhood and professional career in Europe, he repeatedly emphasises his connection to Brazil and the importance of representing his country at the highest level.

A career built on rapid progress

Bortoleto did not reach Formula 1 on the strength of a single dominant result. His journey combined an early move to Europe, years in international karting, steady learning in Formula 4 and Formula Regional, and then two exceptional seasons in the leading junior categories.

The 2023 and 2024 seasons fundamentally changed his standing. In the space of two seasons, a driver who had yet to secure a place in a major Formula 1 team's academy became F3 champion, F2 champion, a member of McLaren's programme and, ultimately, a full-time Formula 1 driver.

The next chapter of his career is now unfolding at the highest level of motorsport. Whatever his future results, his journey from karting through two consecutive junior titles to the Formula 1 grid remains one of the most remarkable aspects of his story so far.