In 2023, Gabriel Bortoleto was thrust into the spotlight after winning the Formula 3 championship title with Trident. A remarkable season which confirmed his potential, marked by two victories and several podiums.
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His first steps in karting
It was well before this feat that the Brazilian began to build a reputation, since it all began when he started karting in Brazil, in the Sulbrasileiro championship. With an exceptional year in 2018, punctuated by podiums at the European and World Championships, he quickly established himself as one of the most promising young talents of his generation.
Towards the single-seater
His transition to single-seaters in 2020, with Prema Powerteam in Formula 4, is a decisive step. There, he stood out for his consistency and solid performances, including a victory at Mugello and a total of five podiums which allowed him to finish fifth in the championship, ahead of drivers like Sebastián Montoya.
In 2021, he joined the Formula Regional European championship with FA Racing, the team founded by Fernando Alonso, his mentor. Although his beginnings were marked by difficulties, he managed to find his rhythm, finishing the season with several podiums and a fifteenth place in the general classification.
But it was in 2022, by joining R-ace GP, that Bortoleto reached a milestone. He scored his first victory at Spa-Francorchamps and quickly became a driver to watch. It was also at this time that he took part in Formula 3 tests with the Trident team, an experience which propelled him towards a tenure in the discipline for the 2023 season. From his first F3 laps, he stood out with a victory in Sakhir, a pole position in Melbourne and several podiums which allowed him to win the title at the end of the year.
Entry into the McLaren sector
The year 2023 also marks a turning point in his career, when he joins McLaren’s junior pathway, launched in April of that year. Although the British brand firmly believes in his potential, it is clear that no place in Formula 1 is available for him in the short term, which does not prevent the team from supporting him in his progress.
A new challenge in Formula 2 and the progression to F1
Building on his Formula 3 title, Bortoleto takes charge of Formula 2 in 2024 with Invicta Virtuosi Racing. There, he confirmed his potential with a first victory at Spielberg and a podium at Imola. But his future took on a new dimension on November 6, 2024, when he was made official by Kick Sauber to join Formula 1 in 2025 alongside Nico Hülkenberg, a decisive step in the career of the young Brazilian.
It remains to be seen whether the hopes placed in him will come to fruition and whether he will be able to perform at Sauber while contributing to the development of the team within the framework of the Audi project.
