F3 champion Bortoleto hints: 'That's my plan for next year'

Gabriel Bortoleto was crowned Formula 3 champion in a bizarre way at Monza on Friday. The 18-year-old Brazilian is now setting his sights on next year and the next steps he wants to take in his motorsport career.

Bortoleto heard the good news in the pit lane during qualifying. Due to a red flag, the session could not be resumed and as his rivals Paul Aron and Pepe Marti failed to take pole position - and thus two points - the Brazilian was crowned champion.

F3 champion Bortoleto on future plans

Logically, the young Trident driver's eyes are set on the future. "My plan is to go to Formula 2 next season. I cannot open up on any plans for now, where I'll go or who I'll be talking to. But yeah, for sure it's the goal," the brand-new F3 champion replied to a question from GPblog.

"I think after being Formula 3 champion that's our main goal now, to go to F2 and try to do the same as we did this season," he added. It would be an important step not only for Bortoleto, but also for Brazilian motorsport fans, who would love to see a Formula 1 driver from their home country in action again.

"In Brazil, I think things are going very well," Bortoleto says of his home country. "People are talking a lot about what I did this season and are also supporting me a lot. So I'm very, very happy."