Gabriel Bortoleto, a young Brazilian racing talent, is striving to end an eight-year gap for Brazil in Formula 1 by making a strong start at the Austrian Grand Prix. Starting from eighth position on the grid, Bortoleto is focused on earning his first F1 points and ending the country’s dry spell since Felipe Massa last scored at the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Team Upgrades and Track Familiarity Boost Performance
The 20-year-old driver, representing the Stake team, expressed relief at reaching Q3 in qualifying for the first time in his F1 career. Demonstrating his speed, Bortoleto was the fifth-fastest driver in the middle segment of the session. Stake introduced technical updates, including a new floor and diffuser, at Spielberg, which Bortoleto credited for his improved pace, alongside his comfort on the Styrian circuit.
Bortoleto Confident in Car Setup and Qualifying Execution
Reflecting on his qualifying performance, Bortoleto said,
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.
—Gabriel Bortoleto, F1 Driver
Race Prospects and Determination to Score Points
Looking forward to the race, Bortoleto remains hopeful about securing a points finish despite strong competition. He acknowledged some rivals are more challenging to surpass, but he is confident in his chances. He remarked,
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.
—Gabriel Bortoleto, F1 Driver
The Significance of Ending Brazil’s Points Drought
Gabriel Bortoleto’s performance at the Austrian Grand Prix has the potential to break Brazil’s long-standing absence from the Formula 1 points standings. His display of skill and determination puts him in a position to make history for himself and his compatriots. As the race unfolds, fans and experts alike will watch keenly to see if Bortoleto can secure a breakthrough result at Spielberg.