F1Weekly Podcast # 1078
Play Podcast: 01-15-25f1weekly1078.mp3
Nasir and the host compare notes on all the 2025 F1 season possibilities, we also wait with anticipation the new Luigi Hamiltonio behind the wheel of a Ferrari! Motorsports Mondial is chock full with more Formula 1® History. Bortoleto is introduced and, our interview: Jean Jacques Gasly Pierre’s father. A former karting, endurance, and rally racing driver.
Brazil back in F1 with Bortoleto
When Gabriel Bortoleto takes to the grid in his Sauber at the season opener in Albert Park on March 16, he will become the first Brazilian to start in Formula 1 since Pietro Fittipaldi in the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The land of Pele has a rich history in Formula 1 going back to Monza Autodromo in 1951 when Chico Landi made his F1 debut driving a Ferrari.
In 1970, it was Emerson Fittipaldi who put Brazil among the F1 winning nations by taking his maiden win with Lotus in only his fourth F1 start at Watkins Glen. Two years later he became the first and then youngest world champion from his country.
Since then, we have seen one Samba sensation after another. Fellow Paulista Carlos Pace was the second Brazilian Grand Prix winner when he triumphed at his home track in 1975. The track is now named in his memory. Rio de Janeiro’s wildcat Nelson Piquet was the second Brazilian world champion winning twice with Brabham in 1981 and ’83 and once with Williams in 1987. Then came Ayrton Senna, one of the true GOATS of
Bortoleto was born on October 14, 2004, in São Paulo. Racing is in the family bloodline, his father Lincoln Oliveira, a successful telecom businessman, is also a senior player in Brazilian motorsports. The family supported their talented kid and allowed him to embark on his European expedition when he was only 11 years old.
Highlight of his karting experience was third place in both the 2018 European and world championships and second place in the prestigious Andrea Margutti Trophy.
Stairway to F1 Heaven
Today, the Italian Formula 4 championship is regarded as the most competitive entry-level single seater racing series in the world. It was in this championship in the 2020 season that Bortoleto made his mark. His first victory came in the fourth round at the Ferrari owned Mugello circuit. He was fifth in the championship.
The following two seasons he raced in the Formula Regional Europe by Alpine series. In 2021, his only podium of the season came at the Red Bull Ring and at the end of the season he was 15th in the standings.
In 2022, a pair of wins and five podium appearances helped him to sixth in the standings.
Angel from above
In September 2022, an important inspiration came into his life when he signed with Fernando Alonso’s A14 Management.
“The biggest thing I’ve learnt from him is to never give up and always give your best in everything that you do. Whether it’s motorsport or even just playing football or paddle, you should give your best,” Bortoleto as quoted on the official F3 website.
The plan for the 2023 season called for taking on the incredibly challenging European Formula 3 championship with the Italian Trident team.
The boy from Brazil delivered, taking two wins and six podium finishes to take the title in his rookie season in the championship. This landed him in the final frontier before the Formula Uno Paradiso.
Teaming up with Invicta Racing he had a difficult start to the 2024 season. After finishing sixth and fifth in the Sprint and Feature race respectively in the opening round in Bahrain, he failed to score a point in the next four races.
Bortoleto’s first F2 podium was achieved in the Feature race at Imola which was followed by another second-place finish in the Monaco Sprint race.
His long-awaited maiden victory came in the Feature race of Round 7 at the Red Bull Ring. His second and final victory was an impressive last-to-first performance in the feature race at Monza.
The final round at Yas Marina became a two-horse race for the championship between Bortoleto and Red Bull Junior Isack Hadjar. Second in both races of the final round made Bortoleto the second Brazilian to win the Formula 2 Championship in three years. In 2022, it was his best friend Felipe Drugovich who took the title.
Bortoleto now joins an elite group of drivers on the grid who won the F2/GP2 championship in their rookie season, Hamilton. Leclerc, Russell, Piastri and Hulkenberg, his new teammate at Sauber this season at the top echelon of motor racing.