Young Brazilian driver, Gabriel Bortoleto, is on a mission to break an eight-year dry spell for his countrymen in Formula 1 after making a promising start at the Austrian Grand Prix. Securing the eighth position on the grid, Bortoleto is determined to secure his first points in F1 and end Brazil’s points drought since Felipe Massa’s 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finish.
The 20-year-old sensation from Stake team expressed relief after reaching Q3 for the first time in his F1 career, showcasing his potential by being the fifth-quickest in the session’s middle segment. With new upgrades introduced by Stake in Spielberg, including an updated floor and diffuser, Bortoleto attributed his strong qualifying performance to the team’s developments and his affinity for the Styrian circuit.
In an exclusive interview, Bortoleto shared his confidence in the car’s performance, stating, “I felt like after my second lap in Q1, still with the used [tyres], because I did a new and then a second lap on that set, and it was a very good lap. And I was like, ‘okay, the car is spot on’, and we nailed it. So I knew if I did a good job driving and put everything together, we would do a good job. And I felt like we maximised everything.”
Looking ahead to the race, Bortoleto remains optimistic about his chances of clinching a points finish, acknowledging the tough competition but staying focused on his goal. He emphasized, “I think this weekend, we can actually fight for it. The people that are around us, well, [Max] Verstappen not really, because I feel like he’s gonna go forward… But yeah, for sure we can fight for it.”
With the determination and skill displayed by Gabriel Bortoleto, the Brazilian driver is poised to make history by ending the long points drought for his compatriots in Formula 1. Stay tuned as he takes on the challenge at the Austrian Grand Prix and aims to secure a memorable result for himself and his country.
