Gabriel Bortoleto made his debut in Formula 1 this year. After winning titles in both F3 and F2, the 20-year-old Brazilian now serves as a Sauber driver alongside the experienced Nico Hülkenberg. Given the competitive state of the Swiss racing team, his rookie year may not be as exciting as hoped. In the run-up to the Saudi Arabian GP, Bortoleto stated that he knew he would no longer be fighting at the forefront, although it remains difficult to be the backmarker.
During a press conference in the run-up to the race weekend in Jeddah, Gabriel Bortoleto was asked about Sauber’s lack of speed. Especially after his brilliant seasons in Formula 3 and Formula 2, it must be difficult to accept that he is now driving one of the slowest cars. “It’s certainly not easy when you’ve just won two titles,” Bortoleto responded. “I used to be in this room because I had qualified in the top three or was on the podium,” he referred to the official FIA press room. “Now I have to fight to make it to Q2.”
Bortoleto takes comfort in the thought that other, more successful drivers also started with less competitive teams. “You don’t just get it handed to you,” he continued optimistically. “If you look at George Russell, for example: I believe he didn’t score any points in his first season either. Now he may not be fighting for the title, but he often stands on the podium and always fights for points.” Russell made his debut in 2019 with the Williams team and finished firmly at the bottom of the standings.
‘The Team Has Prepared Me for This’
“It’s all about patience,” says Bortoleto. “I have a lot to learn, I need to keep doing my best and continue to grow as a driver. I can also see this period as a learning experience. Realistically, Nico Hülkenberg and I are not fighting for points right now,” he admits. “Nico was in the top ten in Australia, but that was a chaotic race. When it comes to pure speed, we were really not competitive in the recent races.”
“I know that things can change quickly in Formula 1, so it’s important not to give up,” he concludes positively. “I talk a lot with other drivers — some of them know what it’s like to go a whole season without scoring points. When I joined this team, I knew I wouldn’t be fighting for podiums or points. I knew this would happen, and the team made it clear so I could prepare for it. It’s not always pleasant, but it is what it is.”
