After Ayrton Senna, Felipe Massa and Rubens Barrichello, Brazil has hopes back in Formula 1 with Gabriel Bortoleto.
At 20 years old, the young man – another Italian-Brazilian – seeks to consolidate its name among the greats of the category, keeping alive the tradition of Brazilian drivers in international motorsport.
He was Formula 3 champion in 2023 and Formula 2 in 2024, both titles won as a rookie. With a strong connection to Italian culture, Bortoleto stood out in the lower categories in Europe before reaching the top category of world motorsport.
Despite expectations, Gabriel Bortoleto has not yet fit in at the start of the Formula 1 season.
Without scoring points in the first races, the driver faces difficulties in adapting to the Sauber car and the pace of the main category of motorsport.
Family roots and early move to Italy
Gabriel Lourenzo Bortoleto Oliveira (your full name) He is the son of Andrea Bortoleto, granddaughter of Italians, and Lincoln Oliveira da Silva, a businessman in the telecommunications sector. His involvement with motor racing began early, inspired by his father and his brother Enzo, a former driver and current businessman in the sector.
At age 11, Gabriel moved to Desenzano del Garda, a small town on the shores of Lake Garda, in northern Italy. The move was strategic to boost his career in European karting competitions and minor formulas.
According to the driver himself, the decision to live in Italy was not communicated to his mother in detail, to avoid any resistance to a permanent departure. He currently lives in Milan, the country's industrial and sporting hub.
Italian formation on the slopes
Gabriel's competitive base was built on Italian territory. In 2020, he debuted in the Italian Formula 4 Championship for According to Powerteam, a traditional team in the country. The first victory in single-seaters came on the circuit of Mugello, in Tuscany.
In 2021 and 2022, Bortoleto competed in the European Formula Regional Championship, passing through teams such as FA Racing and R-ace GP. The seasons were marked by technical maturity and approximation to the style of European racing.
The driver also stood out in tournaments such as the WSK Super Master Series and the Andrea Margutti Trophy, competitions that traditionally reveal Italian talents for world motorsport.
F3 and F2 Champion, and now in Formula 1
With solid experience on European tracks, Bortoleto shone in Formula 3 in 2023 for the Trident team, based in Italy. He won races in Bahrain and Australia, maintaining a constant lead until he won the title in Monza.
In Formula 2, he raced for Invicta Racing, securing the championship after an intense battle with French-Algerian Isack Hadjar. The victory was decided in the last race, in Yas Marina, in the United Arab Emirates.
In November 2024, he was announced as Sauber's main driver for the 2025 Formula 1 season. He shares the team with German Nico Hülkenberg and chose the number 5 as a tribute to the car he used to win the F3 championship.
First races and challenges in F1
Bortoleto's F1 debut took place at the Australian GP. Despite showing good performance in qualifying, he retired from the race after a crash. In the following stages, he faced difficulties with the team's pace and the limitations of the car.
Even without scoring points in the first four races, the driver demonstrated progress, highlighting his technical learning and adaptation to the new environment. In an interview, he stated that he is enjoying every moment, even on the most challenging circuits, such as Suzuka, in Japan.
Connection with Italian culture
The Italian influence is reflected not only in his surname, but in Bortoleto’s entire background and lifestyle. It was in Italy that he grew up as an athlete, learned to compete and developed ties with the European sports world.
Even though he represents Brazil in Formula 1, Gabriel carries Italian-Brazilian DNA throughout his career. Combining European discipline and Brazilian passion, he represents a new generation of drivers formed between two cultures.
FOLLOW-US
