Gabriel Bortoleto says the examples set by Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Oscar Piastri encourage him to imagine he can obtain race victories and battle for titles in Method 1.
By successful the 2024 Method 2 championship the Brazilian joined Leclerc, Russell and Piastri as the one drivers to have gained the Method 3/GP3 and F2 titles in back-to-back years as rookies. Whereas Piastri needed to wait a season in a reserve function, all 4 have been rewarded with F1 race seats and the trio that went earlier than Bortoleto — who will race for Stake Sauber in 2025 — have all gained a number of races since stepping up.
“They’re all F1 race winners, so for me it’s a privilege to be round these names,” Bortoleto mentioned. “They’re drivers who I’ve all the time been impressed by, if you see them racing in junior collection and so they have been successful every little thing, dominating the championships as rookies, shocking F1 groups and getting their seats in F1, then rising up, successful races in F1.
“That’s clearly considered one of my targets, to characterize my nation in F1 and to win races and hopefully championships in the future there. So it’s wonderful to be round these names and to be one of many few those that have managed to do that achievement.”
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Bortoleto’s signature was secured by Audi forward of its full-time entry in 2026, and brings a Brazilian driver completely onto the grid for the primary time since 2017, one thing the 20-year-old says is a particular feeling as he goals to provide his countrymen trigger for pleasure.
“I’m super-proud of being Brazilian, as a result of nothing is straightforward for us. We come from a good distance from right here, we undergo a whole lot of issues to realize success — particularly on this sport.
“It’s very costly for Brazil to have the ability to afford a driver to have the ability to race in Method 3 and Method 2 and to in the future have the ability to go to Method 1. We now have not been going by way of an excellent second the previous couple of years in Brazil; we are attempting to get higher and higher, however it’s by no means simple.
“For me to have the ability to give them somewhat little bit of happiness in these moments is wonderful, as a result of if I will be a part of their Sunday mornings after they get up and so they watch the TV and so they see a Brazilian driver representing them in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, throughout Europe as nicely, it’s an incredible feeling for me and for them as nicely.”
