## Gabriel Bortoleto: The F2 Champion Set to Impress in F1 with Sauber
While the spotlight has been on drivers like Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman ahead of their 2025 F1 debuts, another young talent has been quietly making a name for himself: Gabriel Bortoleto. Signed by Sauber for the 2025 season, Bortoleto is set to partner with Nico Hulkenberg, forming a dynamic duo for the team that will be powered by Audi from 2026.
Bortoleto’s journey to F1 has been one of impressive consistency and rapid progress. After dominating karting in Brazil, he honed his skills in Europe, where the competition is significantly tougher. His impressive results in Italian F4 in 2020 and two strong seasons in Formula Regional caught the attention of many. However, it was his dominant rookie campaign in F3 in 2023 that truly put him on the map. His ability to adapt quickly to different single-seater cars and excel in progressively faster machinery marked him as a driver with immense potential. This didn’t go unnoticed by McLaren, who signed him to their Driver Development Programme.
Bortoleto’s F2 season has been a testament to his skill and determination. Despite a somewhat shaky start, he quickly found his rhythm, claiming a maiden victory in Austria in June and adding another impressive Feature Race win at Monza in September. This consistency propelled him to the top of the championship standings, securing him a coveted F1 seat with Sauber even before the season’s end.
Bortoleto’s success has caught the eye of many, including two-time F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso, who signed the young Brazilian to his driver management company, A14, in 2022. Alonso has been a strong advocate for Bortoleto, highlighting his exceptional talent and dedication. “He’s an incredible talent and a very humble person as well, which I think that’s the biggest thing that we need to work on,” Alonso stated. “He’s a hard worker, apart from his talent, and I think that’s why in Formula 3 and Formula 2 he had this much progress.”
Even McLaren, despite not being able to offer Bortoleto a seat in their own team, have expressed their support and belief in the young driver. Zak Brown, McLaren’s CEO, described Bortoleto as a “great racing driver,” and team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged Sauber’s interest in their driver. “We have a strong driver line-up in Lando and Oscar, and therefore we have always been clear that we would not stand in the way of an opportunity for Gabriel to progress whilst we are not in the position to offer him a seat with McLaren,” McLaren stated in a team statement.
As Bortoleto prepares for his F1 debut, he’s not just another rookie. He’s a champion in waiting, with the talent, dedication, and support to make a significant impact in the sport. He’s an exciting addition to the F1 grid, and his performance in 2025 will be watched with great interest. Will Bortoleto be the best of this new generation of F1 drivers? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: he has all the tools necessary to make his mark on the world stage.
