Young Formula 1 upstart Gabriel Bortoleto is set to challenge the perception of Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko, who recently labeled him a ‘B’ grade driver. Despite Marko’s praises for Bortoleto’s strategic intellect and adept tyre management, he asserted that the Brazilian lacked the “pure speed” associated with top-tier drivers.
Responding to this verdict, Bortoleto expressed his resolve to disprove Marko’s assessment over time. The ambitious rookie, who previously clinched both Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles in head-to-head challenges against Red Bull’s drivers, remains undeterred, stating “I’ve seen that, and I love challenges.”
Bortoleto’s entrance into Formula 1 is marked by an impressive track record. He mirrors the extraordinary feats of Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri, having won the F3 and F2 titles consecutively. Sauber has welcomed him as a teammate to Nico Hulkenberg, adding to the anticipation surrounding his debut.
Moreover, Bortoleto’s talent has caught the attention of Fernando Alonso’s A14 Management company. The two-time World Champion boldly declared last season that among the F1 2025 rookies, Bortoleto is the best.
Marko, however, remains sceptical. Speaking on Red Bull’s in-house channel Servus TV, he expressed his reservations: “I would classify him as a ‘B’ driver. He’s a very intelligent driver. He won the Formula 3 championship, but with only one win and he usually stays out of trouble. In Formula 2, he only managed two victories. He is a driver who brings the car home safely, has a good command of strategy and tyre management, but I don’t see that pure speed in him.”
The rookie Brazilian driver is unfazed by Marko’s comments and looks forward to proving his worth in his inaugural F1 season. “Hearing that from Helmut, he’s a guy that has put a lot of talents in Formula 1, and has put a lot of wrong talents already in F1, so you can see he got it right and wrong and, hopefully, I will prove him wrong with time,” Bortoleto stated confidently, during a press interaction in Melbourne.
Bortoleto is determined to let his performance speak for him. He aims to prove Marko wrong and hopes that the Red Bull advisor will eventually acknowledge his mistake. For now, the young driver is focusing on improving his skills and delivering the best performance possible. He takes pride in his victories in the junior series, particularly his wins against Red Bull’s own drivers, and is prepared to continue this winning streak in Formula 1.
