F2 driver Gabriel Bortoleto is proving to be a valid Audi F1 candidate.
While the 2024 Formula 1 season is more battled than ever, F2 too needs to crown its champion. Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto are separated by only 10.5 points with six races remaining. Additionally, there are rumours that Bortoleto is eyeing a future F1 seat at Sauber (Audi in 2026) and might make the jump to Formula 1 next year.
In the 2020 Italian Formula 4 championship, Gabriel Bortoleto made his debut with Prema Racing. Alongside Sebastian Montoya, Gabriele Mini, and Dino Beganovic, he had a mixed season in terms of results. He was not able to be competitive enough to fight for the title and finished the championship in fifth position. When he stepped up to Formula 3 with Trident in 2023, he found his former teammates from the Italian championship but this time as opponents.
The Brazilian driver approached the 2023 season with a new drive and fought for the title from the beginning. After an unfortunate accident in the Saturday Sprint race in Bahrain, he recovered in time for Sunday’s Feature race, overtaking pole sitter Gabriel Minì. Taking advantage of the penalty imposed on the Italian driver, he won the race. From that moment onwards, he maintained the lead in the F3 championship. During the qualifying session at Monza, he secured the title for the 2023 season.
How was the Brazilian driver smarter than his opponents? Through consistency. His key to success was not just his two victories and four podium finishes during the year, but also the fact that Bortoleto only failed to collect points in three out of 27 races. Consistency was something he lacked in his debut, but now he seems to have mastered it. It is an important factor if Bortoleto aims for a future in Audi.
The championship fight in F2
Among the first names of drivers that would have made the 2024 Formula 2 grid, was announced the one of Gabriel Bortoleto in Invicta. Together with this news, McLaren signed him as a junior driver from 2024 onwards.
In the first race in Bahrain, his teammate Kush Maini originally qualified for pole position. However, he was penalized due to a technical irregularity. As a result, Bortoleto started in first position. However, he slid into third place during the race and finished in sixth. The following races in Jeddah and Melbourne were challenging for the McLaren driver, as he had to retire three times.
However, at Imola, his performance improved. Since the Emilia Romagna GP, Bortoleto has achieved three podium finishes and two wins. At Monza, the Brazilian was forced to start last from the gird in both races due to a mistake he made in qualifying. Despite this setback, he still managed to finish in the points in both the Sprint and Feature Race, securing a win on Sunday.
His goal is to compete for the championship title, and he currently sits in second place, trailing behind Hadjar. Bortoleto’s impressive victory from the last position demonstrated his determination to fight for the title in the remaining three rounds. Now the Brazilian is only 10.5 points away from Isack Hadjar, who is currently first in the standings. The French-Algerian is starting to feel the pressure from behind.
A Monza miracle! ✨@gabortoleto85 is the only driver to have ever gone from the very back of the grid to the top step of the #F2 podium 🤯
Relive the Brazilian rookie’s rollercoaster weekend in full🎢👉 https://t.co/22T642Gnrc#ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/S4sl5d3geh
— Formula 2 (@Formula2) September 6, 2024
A future in Audi for Bortoleto?
Halfway through the Formula 1 season, it is still unknown the name of the second driver who will get the seat in Sauber/Audi. The German team has said many times they would prefer a lineup made by an experienced driver and a younger one. Among the many names, there is the one of Gabriel Bortoleto. The Brazilian driver, a proud member of Fernando Alonso‘s management, seems to be on top of the list. His consistency and determination, which he proved until now on track, are getting the attention of various teams in Formula 1.
Although the Brazilian is part of the McLaren Junior Program, as shown by Oscar Piastri, a driver’s goals and opportunities can change over time. If McLaren and Audi were to agree and if Bortoleto continues to prove his good performances, he is closer to Formula 1 than ever.
