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For most Formula 1 drivers, racing in Brazil is special. For Gabriel Bortoleto, it’s personal. The Sauber rookie will take part in his first-ever home Grand Prix this weekend at Interlagos, the same circuit where he once sat in the grandstands dreaming of being on the grid himself. Now, at just 20 years old, that childhood fantasy becomes reality.
A dream finally comes true
Born and raised in São Paulo, Bortoleto grew up surrounded by the legacy of Brazilian motorsport, Senna, Piquet, Fittipaldi. Yet for nearly a decade, the country had no full-time Formula 1 driver. That changes this weekend as Bortoleto becomes the first Brazilian on the grid since Pietro Fittipaldi’s brief Haas stint in 2020.
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“It feels almost unreal,” Bortoleto admitted in Sauber’s pre-race preview. “I’ve dreamed about this since I was a kid. To now race here in front of my family and my home crowd is something very emotional.”
Ironically, despite his roots, he’s never competed at Interlagos before, Formula 2 and Formula 3 don’t race at the circuit, making this his first competitive laps on home soil.
The rise of a Brazilian hopeful
Bortoleto burst onto the scene in 2023 by winning the Formula 2 Championship in dominant fashion. His calm, methodical style drew comparisons to Jenson Button, while his overtaking instincts caught the eye of Sauber’s management. Promoted straight into a full-time F1 seat, he’s spent much of 2025 learning the ropes alongside veteran Nico Hülkenberg.
The results have been encouraging. The rookie has scored points in five of the last five races and sits 19th in the championship, ahead of several more experienced drivers. His best finish so far, sixth in Hungary, showed flashes of the maturity that Sauber hopes to build around for its future Audi partnership.
Confidence ahead of Interlagos
Recent form gives Bortoleto quiet confidence heading into his home weekend. “We’ve been improving as a team,” he said. “The goal is to keep the momentum, maximize every opportunity, and hopefully finish in the top ten here at home.”
He knows the challenge will be tough, the Sprint format means less practice time, and the unpredictable São Paulo weather can turn a session upside down in minutes. Still, the rookie insists he’s ready. “We’ve worked so hard for this, my family and I. Now it’s time to enjoy it and perform.”
Inside Sauber, expectations are measured but hopeful. The car has been improving steadily, and team sources suggest Bortoleto’s data analysis and feedback have impressed engineers. “He’s incredibly composed for a rookie,” one insider said. “He treats every session like an exam, calm, analytical, but fast.”
The Hülkenberg benchmark
Facing a veteran teammate in Nico Hülkenberg has been a trial by fire. Yet Bortoleto has held his own. In qualifying, he leads the head-to-head 11–9, outpacing the German more often than not. Over race distance, the pair are level at 10–10, suggesting a genuine balance of pace.
Hülkenberg’s advantage comes from his podium in Britain, which gave him a solid points cushion, but within the team, there’s growing recognition that the rookie’s trajectory is steep. The early-season gap of 33 points has shrunk to 22, and insiders say Bortoleto’s progress has been one of Sauber’s biggest positives of 2025.
The home crowd advantage
The energy in São Paulo is unlike anywhere else, and Bortoleto can expect deafening support. Brazilian fans are famously passionate, and after years without a local hero, they finally have someone to cheer for.
“I can’t wait to race for them,” he smiled. “It’s going to be emotional, but I’ll stay focused. The best way to thank them is with a strong performance.”
If the past few rounds are any indication, Bortoleto could well deliver. He’s improving with every lap and now he gets to do it in front of the people who first believed in him.
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