Bortoleto's F1 dawn: 'This is where the real work starts'

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At just 20, Gabriel Bortoleto is gearing up for his Formula 1 debut with Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, fresh off a dazzling run through the junior ranks.

Back-to-back Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles in his rookie seasons – just like McLaren charger Oscar Piastri - have stamped him as a talent to watch, but as he steps into the big leagues with the Swiss outfit, he's wide-eyed and ready to grind.

Reflecting on his whirlwind journey, his intense preparations, and what lies ahead, Bortoleto's got a fire in him – and a simple plan to make it work. Here's his story, straight from the source.

From Junior Star to F1 Reality

For Bortoleto, pinching himself still doesn't quite cover it.

"I'm feeling very good. It's my first season in Formula 1, and it's a dream come true," he said, quoted by GrandPrix247.

"When you are young, you dream of reaching F1, but you don't know what the chances actually are. You just have to perform in the junior series and hope to earn your spot there."

And perform he did, as he stated with great pride.

"I think I did a pretty good job in the junior categories, winning the F3 and F2 championship."

Those trophies? They're his ticket to F1 – but not the finish line.

"Now, being in Formula 1 is a huge achievement, but it's really just the beginning," he continued. "This is where the real work starts.

"Now, I'm competing with the best, with the big guys, and I have to work incredibly hard to be at their level."

Sauber's 2024 woes – dead last in the constructors' standings – mean he's not walking into a fairy tale, but Bortoleto's not fazed. He's here to climb, and he knows it's a steep one.

Tackling the F1 Learning Curve

Stepping into F1 feels like landing on another planet for the Brazilian prodigy.

"The biggest thing for me in Formula 1 is that everything is new," he admitted. "There is so much happening, and the scale is completely different from what I was used to.

"There are a lot more team members involved – around 1,000 people working behind the scenes to keep just two cars running on track," he marveled.

His mission? To get in the mix. "For me, it's about understanding what each part of the team does, getting involved with them, and working as hard as I can.

"Formula 1 is more complex than F2 and F3, with more tools and systems to manage. You have to play with the car setup a lot more and develop a deeper technical understanding."

He's been all over it since day one.

"That's something I have been focusing on since the very first post-season test in Abu Dhabi, pushing myself to be as prepared as possible for the first test and the start of the season," he said.

Every tweak, every lap—it's all building toward March.

Eyes Wide Open, Goals in Check

So, what's the target for an absolute beginner in a team looking to rebound? Bortoleto's keeping it real.

"Obviously, it's my rookie season, and there is so much development happening in Formula 1 –
both over the winter and throughout the season," he noted.

"You never really know how good the other teams will be, so it's difficult to set a specific result as a target.

"Of course, I would love to be fighting with the guys at the front, but we know how tough it is to win races or get podiums.

"Right now, that is probably not a realistic expectation, but I am going to give my best to improve both the car and myself."

How does he plan to pull it off? Simple dedication.

"I work very hard toward my goals and everything I want to achieve," he asserted.

"I give everything I have because racing is my life. Honestly, it's all I think about—there is never really a break.

"Even on holidays, my focus is still on racing, improving myself, and developing my driving."

The Method Behind the Madness

Bortoleto's got a vibe that's all his own and a mindset that's carried him far up to now.

"I would describe myself as a very dedicated person, always pushing to do more," he said.

"But at the same time, I'm not complicated—I'm simple. I just try to do my best, every single day. You just jump in and try to adapt to the Formula One world, doing the best you can."

"In F2 and F3, I focused on learning as much as possible—about the car, new techniques, and anything that could one day help me in F1.
"But my mindset was always on the present. When I was in F3, my only focus was F3. Then in F2, it was all about F2.

"I believe that if you start thinking too far ahead, you lose focus on where you are. Over the years, preparation has become something that came naturally to me.

"Now, we will see during the season if all that work pays off," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.

For Bortoleto, 2025 isn't just a debut – it's a chance to prove he belongs with the "big guys," one hard-fought lap at a time.

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