The 2025 Formula 1 season kicks off on March 16, and with just one month to go, the big news for Brazilians is the debut of 20-year-old Gabriel Bortoleto at Sauber.
Bortoleto arrives on the F1 grid with significant titles under his belt—Formula 3 champion in 2023 and Formula 2 champion in 2024 — delivering outstanding performances, such as his victory at the Monza Grand Prix, even after starting from last place.
Let’s go back to 2018, when Charles Leclerc’s debut with the same Sauber team moved motorsport fans. The young Monegasque talent fulfilled his dream of donning the Ferrari suit, making the leap from a backmarker team to the most prestigious outfit in history.
Now, in 2025, Gabriel Bortoleto takes on a similar role, though in entirely different circumstances. He joins Sauber knowing its limitations — it was the worst team of the 2024 season — yet he carries the same spark in his eyes and the same desire to make history as Leclerc did. While the Monegasque driver broke barriers and leveled up within just one season, Bortoleto’s mission is to showcase his potential, even with the modest initial goal of simply scoring points.
We hope, but do not expect, wins or podiums from Bortoleto. However, Brazilian passion will manifest in every lap and every overtake. And just like Leclerc, who wrote his own history, Bortoleto has the opportunity to leave his mark.
The young Brazilian also faces the challenge of outperforming his teammate at Sauber, the experienced Nico Hülkenberg, and extracting the best from a car that will likely struggle in terms of performance.
But the future holds even more surprises. In 2026, Sauber will transform into Audi, opening a new and much more promising chapter in the team’s history.
This transition promises investment and technology that could provide Bortoleto with a competitive car in the second and final year of his contract.
For now, the mission for Brazilian fans is clear: support our new talent.
Gabriel Bortoleto neither needs nor should bear the burden of immediate victories. His role is to showcase brilliance, resilience, and passion—values that, when combined with the legacy of greats like Ayrton Senna, inspire and move Brazilians.