Felipe Massa has expressed his pride as 20-year-old Gabriel Bortoleto prepares to join Sauber next year. The young driver from São Paulo will become the thirty-third Brazilian Formula 1 driver. Massa was the last Brazilian to participate full-time in the premier class. The former F1 driver announced on social media that his homeland can ‘smile again’ thanks to the upcoming debut.
“Congratulations, little brother,” Felipe Massa wrote on social media on Wednesday, alongside a photo of Bortoleto. “You’ve earned it! Brazil can smile again. Good luck and may God bless you.” In the lead-up to the new Formula 1 season and the future takeover by Audi, Sauber has signed the young Bortoleto for an indefinite period. The Brazilian became champion in Formula 3 last year and is now on the verge of a new title in Formula 2. Next year, he will join Nico Hülkenberg, completing the entirely new line-up of the Swiss racing team.
With his debut, Gabriel Bortoleto will become the thirty-third Formula 1 driver from Brazil. In the past, drivers from the South American country have been quite successful. No less than three world champions share Bortoleto’s nationality; Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, and of course Ayrton Senna all became champions. In addition, drivers like Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa have also had impressive careers.
