Gabriel Bortoleto in F1

Gabriel Bortoleto was part of McLaren's driver development program until the end of 2024. However, the team from Woking decided to release the young talent to allow him to progress quickly to Formula 1. In 2025, Bortoleto will drive for Sauber alongside Nico Hülkenberg, meaning that Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou will have to leave the team.

As part of the transition to Audi, Sauber announced several changes in 2024. Former McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl left for the German manufacturer, and former Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley, the former sporting director at Red Bull Racing, were appointed as new team leaders. The team also chose a completely new line-up: Nico Hülkenberg was the first to be announced. For a long time, Bottas seemed the most likely candidate for the second seat, but Sauber opted for young talent alongside the experience of the German. Gabriel Bortoleto was released by McLaren and will join Sauber in 2025 as a permanent F1 driver. Unfortunately, it will be nearly impossible for the reigning Formula 2 champion to claim the title as a rookie, as Sauber finished last in the 2024 F1 season with very few points. It will primarily be a matter for Bortoleto and Hülkenberg to ensure they don't end up at the bottom of the standings again.

After an outstanding Formula 3 campaign in 2023, where Bortoleto won the championship as a debutant with the Hitech team, the next step came in 2024 with a move to Formula 2. Racing for Virtuosi Racing, Bortoleto clinched the title once again as a rookie in the step-up category to Formula 1. Throughout the season, he was mostly in a battle with current Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar. Even before Bortoleto had secured the title, it was already known that he would make the leap to Formula 1 in 2025 with Kick Sauber.

Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso has managed young drivers since 2022. From the start, Gabriel Bortoleto has been one of the drivers under the Spanish veteran's management. The young Brazilian owes much of his seat in Formula 3 for the 2023 season to the A14 management team.

In his first year in Formula 1, Bortoleto will earn around 1.8 million euros at Kick Sauber. However, his total net worth is currently unknown.

Bortoleto has been in a relationship with fellow Brazilian Isabella Bernardini since 2020. Currently, she is studying computer science at the University of Eindhoven. Little is known about the partner of the Formula 1 debutant.

Gabriel Bortoleto was born on October 14, 2004, in São Paulo, Brazil. He is currently 20 years old and will celebrate his 21st birthday on October 14, 2025. The Brazilian stands 1.84 meters tall, making him one of the tallest drivers on the grid.

Stay up-to-date with the latest news about Gabriel Bortoleto and his team, Kick Sauber. From official announcements, updates, and circuit performances to preparations and other activities outside the F1 season, you'll find it all here first on GPblog.com.