Formula 1: Brazil Returns with Bortoleto

The 2025 São Paulo Formula 1 Grand Prix, taking place on November 7, 8 and 9, will bring a new splash of color. After eight years, since Felipe Massa left the tracks, the Interlagos crowd will once again be able to wave green and yellow flags every time Gabriel Bortoleto passes by. Giant butterfly wings, a nod to Gabriel’s surname, are also expected in the grandstands. A strong contender for the title of best rookie of the season, the driver has been improving with every race.

The first results of 2025 already point to a great season. In June, in Austria, Bortoleto became the youngest Brazilian to score points in F1, finishing ninth. And at 20 years and 9 months old, in Hungary, he became the youngest Brazilian driver to secure a sixth-place finish in the most important category in world motorsport. After 14 races this year, Bortoleto is 17th in the championship standings, with a total of 14 points.

Sauber was reborn in 2025 after a poor campaign last year, when it finished last in the Constructors’ Championship with just four points. The team replaced both drivers, betting on the experience of Nico Hülkenberg and the talent and youth of Gabriel Bortoleto. So far, Sauber has scored 51 points and occupies seventh place.

In comparison with Hülkenberg, Bortoleto has started ahead of his teammate eight times and behind him six times. In the races, the opposite has happened: Hülkenberg has finished ahead of Bortoleto eight times and behind him six times. It is worth noting that this is Bortoleto’s first season, while Hülkenberg is in his 14th.

Bortoleto’s meteoric career began when, still a teenager, he moved to Italy to compete in karting events, and from there advanced through other categories. He raced in Italian Formula 4, the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA), and reached Formula 3 in 2023, winning the title in his first year. Last year, he raced in Formula 2, the final step before F1. He won the title and, to top it off, delivered a stunning victory in Monza during the Italian GP’s support race, starting from 22nd on the grid. That was the decisive step to secure the coveted spot with the Sauber team, after a smooth and friendly negotiation to end his commitment with McLaren’s young driver academy. Winning both F3 and F2 in his first year placed Bortoleto alongside Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc and George Russell.

Since the beginning of his Formula 3 career, Bortoleto has had invaluable support: the backing of A14 Management, Fernando Alonso’s talent agency.

After the race at the Hungaroring, former Formula 1 president Bernie Ecclestone suggested Bortoleto’s name to, in the not-so-distant future, take the seat currently held by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari.

Formula 1 already regards Bortoleto with great respect.