Gabriel Bortoleto to make Formula 1 debut with Sauber

At just 19, the Brazilian has become a star, winning numerous accolades, including the 2023 Formula 3 Championship title. Gabriel grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and began his racing career at the age of 8, competing in the 2012 Campeonato Sulbrasileiro de Kart. He successfully finished third in the 2018 European and World Championships in the OKJ category. Taking on the next challenge in his career, Gabriel moved up to single-seater racing in 2020, representing KTF Sports and competing in the Italian Formula 4 Championship with Prema Racing. Gabriel achieved four podiums in his debut season, including a win at the fourth round of the series in Mugello. Ready to move on, Gabriel competed in the Alpine Formula 1 European Regional Championship in 2021, where he scored two podium finishes to finish sixth overall. In 2022, he moved to the French R-Ace GP team in the Asian Regional Formula Championship, winning his debut race at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Gabriel’s determination and hard work impressed Trident Motorsport, who invited Gabriel to take part in the 2022 Formula 3 pre-season test in Jerez. Shortly after, Trident announced him as their driver for the 2023 Formula 3 season. Gabriel started the season strongly, winning the first main race of the season in Bahrain. He clinched the championship at the final round in Monza. Following his success, Gabriel joined the McLaren Driver Development Programme in October 2023, where he will develop within the team with the aim of helping drivers progress to Formula 1, IndyCar and Formula E. Now he is set to make his Formula 1 debut.

The 20-year-old driver will make his Formula 1 debut and will be the first Brazilian in the championship in four years, in which his compatriot Pietro Fittipaldi once successfully drove two rounds at the wheel of Haas.

According to Gabriel, it is a great honour for him to join such car manufacturers as Sauber and Audi. The driver intends to grow together with the team, climbing to the difficult heights of dangerous motorsport. Both teams have a long history of scouting and nurturing young talent, so it is no coincidence that Sauber and Audi are betting on Gabriel Bortoleto. This new name will soon become one of the most significant in Formula 1 history. 

Sauber has never been shy about giving young drivers a chance. People like Kimi Raikkonen, Robert Kubica and Sergio Perez have won races, and some even championships. Bortoleto's meteoric rise has been supported by two influential players in Formula 1 - Fernando Alonso and McLaren. The McLaren development driver joined Alonso's driver management company A14 in 2022 and has since gotten to know Formula 1 technology, driving the McLaren MCL 36 at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. Both were literally rooting for the young Bortoleto, increasing their faith in the Brazilian's abilities. Sauber Motorsport AG Chief Operating and Technical Officer Mattia Binotto said he believes in the young driver. According to him, Bortoleto is a truly bright talent who has already demonstrated phenomenal potential in junior racing series that simply cannot be missed. Binotto also noted that the young driver will be a revelation behind the wheel of a Sauber and Audi car next season. He has the perfect combination of experience and youth, which will provide the team with a strong position in the future. For the Brazilian, this is a truly dizzying rise in his career. Shortly before Gabriel was announced as part of the new line-up, Sauber thanked their two drivers Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou for their work and confirmed that they would be leaving at the end of the season. A few days later, it was officially announced that Gabriel would now be driving alongside Nick.