Gabriel Bortoleto, a young Brazilian Formula 1 driver, is set to end an eight-year absence of Brazilian points in F1 after securing eighth place on the starting grid at the Austrian Grand Prix. This marks Brazil’s best qualifying position since Felipe Massa’s final points finish at the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The 20-year-old from the Stake team aims to score his first points and revive hope for Brazilian fans.
Stake Team’s Upgrades and Circuit Familiarity Boost Bortoleto’s Pace
Bortoleto reached Q3 for the first time in his F1 career, demonstrating his speed as the fifth-fastest driver during the middle stage of qualifying. He credited Stake’s recent technical improvements, including a new floor and diffuser, for his strong performance at Spielberg. His comfort with the Styrian circuit also played a key role in delivering this breakthrough.
Reflecting on his qualifying laps, Bortoleto said,
I felt like after my second lap in Q1, still with the used [tyres], because I did a new and then a second lap on that set, and it was a very good lap. And I was like, ‘okay, the car is spot on’, and we nailed it. So I knew if I did a good job driving and put everything together, we would do a good job. And I felt like we maximised everything.
—Gabriel Bortoleto, F1 Driver
Optimism and Determination Ahead of Race Day
Looking forward to the race, Bortoleto remains hopeful about securing points despite the tough competition surrounding him. He acknowledged that while some front-runners like Max Verstappen seem set to pull ahead, there is still a solid opportunity to challenge other drivers near his grid position.
He expressed this confidence clearly:
I think this weekend, we can actually fight for it. The people that are around us, well, [Max] Verstappen not really, because I feel like he’s gonna go forward… But yeah, for sure we can fight for it.
—Gabriel Bortoleto, F1 Driver
Potential to End Brazil’s Formula 1 Points Drought
Gabriel Bortoleto’s impressive debut in Austria signals a promising future for Brazil in Formula 1, as he strives to end the long wait for points by a Brazilian driver. His performance could inspire renewed enthusiasm for the sport in his homeland and establish him as a new figure in the F1 driver lineup. Fans and experts alike will be watching closely as he attempts to translate his strong qualifying into a historic race result.
