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After six rounds of the F2 championship, Gabriel Bortoleto’s championship hopes looked bleak. He was 12th in the standings on just 15 points after a run of three successive retirements, 47 adrift of championship leader Zane Maloney.
But the next event in Melbourne reignited his fortunes, with the Brazilian taking pole and a second-place and going on a run of 10 races in the points, including a win and another podium.
READ MORE: ‘A fantastic, high-potential driver’ – Binotto explains the ‘no-brainer’ decision to sign Bortoleto
That challenging start, though, meant the 20-year-old reigning F3 champion wasn’t even looking at trying to make it into F1 next year. “This season didn’t start so well so at the beginning,” said Bortoleto in his first press conference since the news broke that he would be making his F1 debut with Kick Sauber next year.
“We didn’t have any talks or anything about next year [in F1]. We even thought at the same time if we would repeat it to what we were going to do between our managers. But at some point, obviously this season had a turnover.
“I started winning races and podiums. This Audi thing started to happen – I don’t remember exactly when it did, but then we started talking.”
Bortoleto said the initial discussions centred around the Brazilian joining in 2026, when Audi will make Sauber their factory works team but, in recent weeks, there was a pivot towards bringing him in as early as next year as the Swiss team saw the potential benefits of backing youth over experience.
That could have heaped the pressure on Bortoleto – but the 20-year-old, who will be the first full-time Brazilian on the grid since Felipe Massa left in 2017, admitted the comfort blanket of knowing 2026 was on the cards anyway – with a potential second season in F2 to hone his skills – helped keep the focus.
ANALYSIS: Why Sauber chose to go with Bortoleto and youth rather than Bottas and experience
“[Mattia] was not sure about an experienced driver for next year or a young driver, but the plan was always to be together,” said Bortoleto. “[It was just a case of whether] it was for ‘25 or ’26.
“I was quite easy with it. I was not too stressed, and it’s not going to change anything in my life right now, because I already knew that things should happen in the future.
“I’m just going to keep driving the same and doing my job in Formula 2 and targeting for this championship that we’re leading right now. But obviously it’s very nice to be announced and stop all the speculations and just focus on F2.”
He added: “Brazil always supported me, especially this season in Formula 1, they created a lot of expectations because of my good results in Formula 3, and after we started doing quite well in Formula 2, the expectations also to jump to F1 were high.
“I don’t think this somehow dropped my performance or anything. I think it’s just got better and better, because it’s the type of thing that gives you energy.
“So, it’s going to be very positive to have the Brazilian fans helping us, supporting us, and just wanting me to perform well in Formula 1 and have a good time there.”
READ MORE: What does the future hold for Bottas and Zhou as Kick Sauber sign Bortoleto?
By joining the grid next year, he’ll be in the unusual situation of lining-up alongside veteran double world champion Fernando Alonso – whose driver management agency he is a part of. The duo have become close since linking up – and the Spanish Aston Martin racer has spoken very highly of the 20-year-old.
“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,” said Alonso earlier this year in Baku.
“He’s a hard worker, apart from his talent, and I think that’s why in Formula 3 and Formula 2 he has had this much progress. I think also he’s someone that is taking things very seriously as well, which at that age is never a guarantee. Let’s see what the future brings. But, you know, it’s a matter of time that he gets to F1.”
When asked what it’ll be like to be sharing the track with one of his managers, Bortoleto said: “We always joke about it to be honest, because before I was born, he started racing in Formula 1, and now I am, I’m getting there. I’m going to drive with him. Hopefully we have a good time in F1 together.
“He has been helping me a lot in my journey, teaching me a lot of stuff and supporting me. I think it will be very fun, and I will have a good time with him.”
READ MORE: Who is Gabriel Bortoleto? Everything you need to know about Kick Sauber’s new recruit
Despite Sauber’s recent struggles – they are currently the only team yet to score points so far this season – Bortoleto knows he’s up against it, but equally he is refreshingly optimistic that there are brighter times ahead.
“Obviously, I’m still meeting everyone here in Sauber, but I’m very positive about it,” he said. “I’ve seen there’s new people coming in, a lot of expectations with obviously my announcement as well here.
“We are basically not in a good position right now, but I’m sure we’re going to make steps ahead and we’re going to be there.”
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