Bortoleto ecstatic for his first Brazilian Grand Prix: 'Feels unreal'

11:35, 05 Nov

byOlly Darcy

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto said it "feels unreal" to be driving at his home race, the Brazilian Grand Prix, this weekend.

"All the work my family and I put in over the years has paid off, and I can't wait to finally head out on track in front of my people."

- Gabriel Bortoleto

The 21-year-old will be the latest Brazilian to take to the track at Interlagos and its adoring fans, the first Brazilian to do so since Felipe Massa in 2017.

Bortoleto has impressed in his rookie season at Sauber, and he enters this weekend in São Paulo in good form, coming off the back of a points-paying finish at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

“Growing up in São Paulo, I always dreamed of racing at Interlagos, and to do it as a Formula One driver is something I am really looking forward to – it almost feels unreal," Bortoleto said in Sauber's race weekend preview.

Gabriel Bortoleto finished P10 at the Mexico City Grand Prix, taking his 2025 points tally to 19 points - Photo: Race Pictures

"All the work my family and I put in over the years has paid off, and I can't wait to finally head out on track in front of my people.

"That said, it doesn’t change my focus for the weekend: I'm fully geared up for the race and delivering performance. It’s another Sprint, which means less time to get everything in the best possible shape.

"We’ve had a couple of good results as a team recently, so the goal is to keep working, make the most of every opportunity, and hopefully score another top ten here at home.”

Sauber with plenty to play for

São Paulo fans will see plenty more of Bortoleto in years to come, but not under the Sauber name, as Audi will take over from 2026 onwards with their F1 project.

However, there is still plenty left to play for in the constructors' championship, with four teams, including Sauber, split by just 12 points in a tight tussle for P6.

Team principal Jnathan Wheatley has been able to turn Sauber's fortunes around after a disastrous 2024 season, and the Brit says he will "never give up" on that P6 finish "until it's mathematically impossible".

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