Sauber Formula 1 driver Gabriel Bortoleto was seen taking a break in St. Tropez alongside Nelson Piquet Jr., former F1 racer and brother of Kelly Piquet, just before the Austrian Grand Prix. The young Brazilian continues to show promise in his rookie season with the Swiss team, even as he awaits his first world championship points.
At 20 years old, Bortoleto has impressed with flashes of speed in a challenging car, once outperforming his experienced teammate, Nico Hulkenberg. Despite securing back-to-back titles in Formula 3 and Formula 2, he joined Sauber with modest expectations, driving one of the backmarker cars on the grid.
Currently ranked 19th in the driver standings, Bortoleto looks toward a stronger series of performances from the Austrian Grand Prix through the summer break in August. Before heading to the race, he was captured enjoying a mini-vacation alongside Nelson Piquet Jr. in the famed French Riviera destination. Piquet Jr. shared a video of the pair on his Instagram Story, which Bortoleto later reposted.
Bortoleto rose to prominence after being managed by Fernando Alonso’s company, A14, marking an important step in his racing career.
How Fernando Alonso Influenced Gabriel Bortoleto’s Racing Journey
Bortoleto credits Aston Martin driver and two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso with a crucial role in advancing his career. In a discussion with Crash.net, the young driver acknowledged Alonso’s mentorship as pivotal during his early years.
“I had a very good support from my family and sponsors at the time, but he definitely helped me to progress in good teams and to be in the right position. He saved my career in the sense of maybe without him I wouldn’t have been in the team I was in Formula 3.” — Gabriel Bortoleto
“And if I was not in that team, who knows if I was going to win the championship or not. That’s the question mark. So in that sense he has helped me a lot. He was the guy that gave me those opportunities to be in those teams.” — Gabriel Bortoleto
He also shared the origin of their relationship, describing a connection made through mutual acquaintances at a Formula 1 event.
“My father met him in one of the Formula 1 races. I was not there. They had a friend in common that introduced him to Fernando and they spoke. I needed a manager at the time and Fernando was creating A14 at the time. Everything was a great match and we started working together.” — Gabriel Bortoleto
Bortoleto remains under the guidance of A14 and frequently travels alongside Alonso to races, often aboard the two-time world champion’s private jet.
This association has provided Bortoleto a valuable platform to navigate his early career amidst the pressures of Formula 1. As he prepares for the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix, his time with Nelson Piquet Jr. in St. Tropez reflects a brief but meaningful pause before returning to the challenges of the championship.
