Gabriel Bortoleto returns to his signing for Audi F1 / Sauber.
The Brazilian managed to convince Mattia Binotto despite a Formula 2 season that started badly for the reigning F3 champion.
He admits today, he was not even considering fighting for a seat in F1 from 2025.
"This season didn't start so well at first," Bortoleto said in his first press conference since announcing his upcoming Stake F1 debut.
“We had no discussions, nothing about next year and F1. We even thought at the same time whether we were going to repeat a year in F2, which we were going with my managers . But at some point, it's obvious that this season has reached a turning point.”
“I started winning races and podiums. And this thing with Audi started to happen – I don't remember exactly when it happened, but then we started talking about F1.”
Bortoleto confirmed that initial discussions were about a 2026 finish, allowing Valtteri Bottas to have one final season. But in recent weeks there has been a pivot towards his arrival next year, as the Swiss team saw the potential benefits of banking on his youth rather than experience.
“Mattia wasn't sure between an experienced driver for next year or a young driver, but the plan was always to be together. It was just a matter of whether it was for 2025 or 2026.”
“I was pretty comfortable with it. I wasn't too stressed and it wouldn't change anything in my life right now because I already knew things were going to happen in the future.”
“So I'm just going to continue to drive the same way and do my job in Formula 2 aiming for this championship that we're having now. But it's obviously very nice to be announced and to stop all the speculation and to concentrate solely on F2.”
“Brazil has always supported me, especially this season, my fans created a lot of expectations because of my good results in Formula 3, and after we started doing well in Formula 2, the expectations to move into F1 were also high.”
“It hasn't lowered my performance or anything. I think it's gotten better, more and more, because it's the kind of thing that gives you energy.”
“So it will be very positive to have Brazilian fans who support us and just want me to perform well in Formula 1 and have a good time.”
Joining the grid next year, he will find himself in the unusual situation of lining up alongside two-time world champion Fernando Alonso – whose management agency he is part of.
When asked what it would be like to share the track with one of his managers, Bortoleto said: “We joke about it to be honest, because before I was born he started racing in Formula 1, and now I'm getting there. I'm going to drive with him. I hope we have good times in F1 together. “
“He helped me a lot in my journey, taught me a lot of things and supported me. I think it will be a lot of fun and I will have a good time with him.”
With Sauber's struggles, Bortoleto knows he has his work cut out for him, but he is also optimistic about better days to come.
“Of course I'm still getting to know everyone here at Sauber, but I'm very positive about it. I saw that there were new people coming, a lot of expectations with obviously my announcement as well.”
“We are not fundamentally in a good position at the moment, but I am sure that we will make progress and that we will be there in 2026 with Audi.”
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