Gabriel Bortoleto will make his Formula 1 debut with Sauber next season. The Brazilian racer said he had known for a long time that he would join the team, but until recently he did not know in which year he would race – in 2025 or 2026.
“I didn’t start the Formula 2 season in the best way, so at the very beginning we had no negotiations for 2025,” said Gabriel Bortoleto after the official announcement of the contract. – My managers and I have even thought about spending another year in Formula 2.
But at some point my season took a turn and I started winning races and getting on the podium at every event. At the same time, the first contacts with Audi began, although I do not remember exactly when this happened. Mattia Binotto started showing serious interest in me.
The project seemed interesting to us, so we decided to accept the invitation. At that moment, Mattia wasn’t sure what kind of driver he needed for next season: an experienced one or a young one. But initially we planned cooperation – if not in 2025, then in 2026. Ultimately, Mattia decided to start in 2025.
Of course, as a young driver I wanted to get into Formula 1 as quickly as possible, but I had full confidence in the managers and we got a good chance. When the negotiations with Mattia started, I took them very lightly and wasn’t really worried. After the contract announcement, my life wouldn’t change much, because I already knew what awaited me in the future.
Now I can concentrate on working in Formula 2 and trying to win the title, because I am now in the lead in the individual competition. But of course it is good that a statement has been made that will stop all speculation and I will only concentrate on Formula 2.”
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
