Former Formula 1 driver Emerson Fittipaldi is overjoyed that there will be a Brazilian on the grid again in 2025. Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto will make his debut, and according to the two-time world champion, his young compatriot has chosen the right team. “In my opinion, Sauber is improving every year,” says Fittipaldi.
Sauber will embark on their final season in Formula 1 in 2025, before the German Audi takes over the racing stable in 2026. The team has therefore contracted both experienced driver Nico Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto for several years. Bortoleto is thus the first full-time Brazilian driver since Felipe Massa left Formula 1 in 2017. Expectations are already high in his home country.
Compatriot and former F1 driver Emerson Fittipaldi is pleased that Brazil is once again represented in the premier class. “It will be great for us Brazilians to have a Brazilian on the grid. Bortoleto is doing very well,” Fittipaldi tells the talkSPORT podcast.
New Dimension
Bortoleto has consecutively won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships. The Brazilian won the latter world title by narrowly beating Isack Hadjar to second place last December. Despite this early success for Bortoleto, Fittipaldi believes the Brazilian faces a whole new challenge at Sauber.
“He is going to a team that, in my opinion, is getting better every year, Sauber. Next year it will still be Sauber, but in 2026 it will be Audi. That means they as a team will get a new dimension and we are very excited. We need more Brazilians in Formula 1,” concludes Fittipaldi.
