Why Gabriel Bortoleto Is Taking the Patient Approach in F1

Gabriel Bortoleto has made clear that his future in Formula 1 does not involve looking for shortcuts. While other drivers of his generation like Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar, have already climbed onto the podium, the Brazilian works with patience on the Audi project convinced that the path to success requires time, effort and trust in the process. His objective is not to sign for a more competitive team but to grow alongside the German team and be there when the moment comes to fight for victories and championships.

"I see Hadjar, but also Kimi. They are the two from my generation who are climbing onto the podium, I have raced all my life with them, the truth is that in the lower categories I also did well competing with them and I know my capabilities but I have to be patient; everyone has their own path, we'll see in twenty years how we end up" Bortoleto declared in an interview with Motorsport. The Brazilian does not obsess over the current differences and prefers to focus on his own evolution.

Bortoleto knows that he is an important piece for Audi's future and has clear what his role is at this stage: to keep improving and be prepared for when the team can give him a competitive car because, when that opportunity comes, it will not be enough to have a car capable of winning, he will also have to demonstrate that he is prepared to take advantage of it: "But I have to be patient, everyone has their own path" the Brazilian insists.

In that process he has the support of Mattia Binotto, one of the reference people within Audi, his experience at Ferrari allows him to advise him on the difficulties of building a winning team. Bortoleto also maintains a friendship with Max Verstappen, both share their fondness for simulation racing and talk about how Red Bull managed to become a champion team, that perspective helps him understand that success in Formula 1 does not come overnight.

Bortoleto's trajectory is marked by moments of overcoming: in 2024 when he was fighting for the Formula 2 title, he experienced one of the most complicated episodes of that season in Monza. During qualifying he went off at the first corner of Lesmo and had to face the race from the last position while Isack Hadjar started much further ahead, the Brazilian came to think that he had thrown away an important opportunity and yet, he ended up surprising and won the race, that performance was a decisive impulse on his path to Formula 1. A few weeks later he received the news that he would be a full-time driver for Sauber in 2025 and for Audi in 2026.

Bortoleto faces the future with serenity and ambition, he knows that the path to success is long and requires patience but he trusts in his capabilities and in the Audi project. His objective is clear: to be there when the German team makes the definitive leap and demonstrate that he can compete at the highest level, meanwhile, he will continue working in the shadows, accumulating experience and waiting for his moment. The history of Formula 1 is full of drivers who triumphed thanks to their perseverance and Bortoleto wants to be one of them.