Gabriel Bortoleto will be one of four rookies to make their full-time F1 debuts in 2025, after being chosen by Sauber to replace Valtteri Bottas.
The Brazilian clinched the 2025 F2 title in Abu Dhabi, capping off an impressive season in which he took two wins and eight podiums.
Sauber wanted a younger driver to pair with the experienced Nico Hulkenberg ahead of their transition to Audi in the new year, with Bortoleto recently taking part in the Abu Dhabi post-season test with the team.
Bortoleto is billed as the next big star out of Brazil, with the country’s last driver in F1 being Felipe Massa in 2017, with fellow compatriot Gabriel Casagrande revealing what was being said about him during karting on the Pelas Pistas podcast.
Gabriel Bortoleto considered ‘phenomenal’ talent according to karting friend
Bortoleto has enjoyed a lot of success in karting and the junior formula ranks, having won local Cadete karting championships and taken the 2023 Formula 3 title.
Casagrande recalls how people spoke about Bortoleto during their years karting, with him set to play an important role in motorsport in Brazil.
“He’s phenomenal. I remember him from karting and the whole union of his family was cool to see. His brother Enzo was racing too. Even then it was already being said ‘Ah, he is the future’ and ‘He has a good background’ to give the necessary support to arrive and be champion in F3 and F2,” said Gabriel Casagrande.
“I hope he has a lot of success [in F1]. We have to be patient because I imagine in 2025 the car will not be the best, but I think the competition is he has to beat his teammate. Even though its the first year, I think he has the skills to do this. He has talent and I really hope he succeeds because if we have a successful Brazilian abroad then everything improves in motorsport. He’s always been a quiet guy and working out things on his own.”
Fernando Alonso set to race against driver he manages in 2025
Bortoleto is part of Fernando Alonso’s A14 Management firm, with the two-time F1 world champion being among those to congratulate him in Abu Dhabi on his F2 title.
It means in 2025 Alonso will face the prospect of racing against a driver that he not only manages, but was also born a year before he took his first title in F1 (2004).
READ MORE: Who is 2025 Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto? Everything you need to know
Alonso gave Bortoleto advice on ‘exactly’ how to reach F1, which looks to have paid off nicely for the 20-year-old.
Bortoleto was originally part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme before being released to join Sauber.
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