Gabriel Bortoleto is a Brazilian Formula 1 driver currently racing for Stake F1 (Sauber). Young, smiling, relentlessly upbeat — Bortoleto brings a burst of joy to a grid often defined by pressure and posturing. He was electric in Formula 2, full of confidence and racecraft. In F1, the road’s rougher — but even inside a sluggish Sauber, the flashes are already there. He’s not just learning fast. He’s fighting already. Even if, sometimes, he’s fighting his own team.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Gabriel Bortoleto |
| Born | 14 October 2004, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Current Team | Stake F1 (Sauber, 2026– ) |
| F1 Debut | 2026, Australian Grand Prix |
| Junior Highlight | FIA F3 Champion (2023) |
| Management | A14 Management (Fernando Alonso) |
The Smile, the Fire, and the Alonso Connection
Bortoleto is part of a new wave of South American talent — fast, fearless, and refreshingly fun. He’s all easy laughs and open paddock charm on the outside, but you don’t win an F3 title like he did without being a killer underneath. He’s racy. He’s assertive. And he’s managed by none other than Fernando Alonso, which tells you a lot about his attitude — calm on the radio, ruthless on the inside line.
His F2 campaign showed maturity beyond his age. His rookie F1 season? It’s a grind. The Sauber/Stake car isn’t doing him any favors — unpredictable handling, inconsistent pace, and a team in long-term limbo. But in the chaos, Bortoleto is already finding moments to shine: bold moves in the midfield, great starts, and the occasional battle with his own mentor (yes, he’s gone wheel-to-wheel with Alonso — and survived it).
There’s still a lot to prove. But the ingredients are there.
Career Timeline: Joy with Bite
- Early Years & Karting
- Rose through Brazilian and international karting circuits.
- Moved to Europe young, part of the Brazilian new-gen resurgence.
- Rose through Brazilian and international karting circuits.
- Formula 4 & Formula Regional
- Consistently at the front in F4 Italy and FRECA.
- Gained a reputation for clean, calculated overtakes and smooth tire management.
- Consistently at the front in F4 Italy and FRECA.
- FIA Formula 3 Champion (2023)
- Drove for Trident, won the title with consistency and smart risk-taking.
- Wasn’t the most hyped junior, but delivered when it mattered.
- Drove for Trident, won the title with consistency and smart risk-taking.
- Formula 2 & F1 Test Roles (2024–2025)
- Moved into F2, continued to impress with top-tier performances.
- Joined Alonso’s A14 Management and began testing with Sauber.
- Signed for full-time F1 debut in 2026.
- Moved into F2, continued to impress with top-tier performances.
- F1 with Sauber (2026– )
- Inherited a difficult car, but refused to blend in.
- Sharp in battles, clever on tire strategy.
- Already making a name for himself despite a midfield ceiling.
- Inherited a difficult car, but refused to blend in.
The Long Climb Starts Now
Gabriel Bortoleto isn’t going to win a title this year. He probably won’t even get close to a podium. But that’s not the point. The point is: he’s here, in a sport that eats rookies alive, and he’s smiling — still smiling — while holding his own.
If the car ever comes good, he could be a real threat. And if it doesn’t? He’ll still be fighting.
Because you don’t grow up idolizing Senna and sign with Alonso if you’re not planning on going all the way.
