Gabriel Bortoleto Bio
Gabriel Lourenzo Bortoleto Oliveira, known as Gabi Bortoleto, is a Brazilian racing driver competing in Formula One for Sauber. Born on 14 October 2004 in Osasco, São Paulo, Brazil, Bortoleto has quickly climbed the motorsport ladder, becoming a champion in both the FIA Formula 3 and FIA Formula 2 championships in successive seasons. His rapid rise through the junior categories has established him as one of the most promising young talents in international motorsport.
Bortoleto’s career began in karting at a young age, and he has since earned recognition as a protégé of two-time World Drivers’ Champion Fernando Alonso. Currently driving car number 5 for Sauber with Ferrari power units, Bortoleto represents the new generation of Brazilian drivers aiming to make an impact at the highest level of open-wheel racing.
Early Life and Background
Gabriel Bortoleto was born and raised in Osasco, a city in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. His father, Lincoln Oliveira, is a prominent figure in Brazilian motorsport, serving as chief executive officer and co-owner of the Stock Car Pro Series in Brazil. Lincoln Oliveira also founded Americanet in 1996, an internet service provider that merged with Vero in 2023 to become one of the largest in the country. The family operates KTF Racing, a stock car and kart racing team that has contributed to Brazil’s vibrant motorsport culture.
Growing up surrounded by racing, Bortoleto began competitive karting at the age of seven, quickly demonstrating natural talent behind the wheel. His older brother, Enzo, also pursued motorsport, formerly competing in BRDC British Formula 3, further embedding racing within the family dynamic. Bortoleto has cited Brazilian legend Ayrton Senna as his racing idol, drawing inspiration from the country’s rich Formula One heritage.
At the age of eleven, Bortoleto moved to Europe to pursue a professional racing career, supported by his family. This bold step laid the foundation for his transition from karting to single-seater competition and ultimately to the international stage.
Path to NASCAR
Bortoleto’s career trajectory has followed the traditional European open-wheel pathway rather than the NASCAR ladder system. After achieving significant success in karting, including finishing third in both the European and World Championships in OK-Junior in 2018, he graduated to junior formulae in 2020. His early single-seater experience came in the Italian F4 Championship with Prema Powerteam, where he secured his first single-seater victory at Mugello and finished fifth overall in the 2020 standings.
Following his F4 campaign, Bortoleto progressed through Formula Regional, competing in both the European and Asian championships between 2021 and 2022. His performances caught the attention of two-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso, who signed Bortoleto to his A14 Management company in September 2022. This mentorship proved pivotal in shaping Bortoleto’s professional development and opening doors to top-tier teams.
Bortoleto’s path to Formula One was solidified through his championship-winning form in FIA Formula 3 in 2023 and FIA Formula 2 in 2024, leading to his Formula One debut with Sauber in 2025.
Gabriel Bortoleto Career
Early Career (2011–2020)
Bortoleto began his competitive racing journey in karting in October 2011, competing in Brazil’s Campeonato Sulbrasileiro de Kart from 2012 onwards. His karting career peaked in 2018 when he finished third in both the European and World Championships in the OK-Junior category, while also becoming vice-champion in the WSK Super Master Series and the Andrea Margutti Trophy. These results marked him as one of Brazil’s most promising young karting talents.
Transitioning to single-seater racing in 2020, Bortoleto joined Prema Powerteam for the Italian F4 Championship. Partnering future stars such as Sebastián Montoya, Gabriele Minì, and Dino Beganovic, he claimed his first single-seater victory at Mugello and finished the season ranked fifth overall, demonstrating immediate competitiveness in car racing.
FIA Formula 3 Breakthrough (2023)
Bortoleto’s breakthrough came in 2023 when he joined Trident for the FIA Formula 3 Championship, becoming the first driver announced to a team for that season. After a difficult opening race in Bahrain, he inherited victory in the feature race and carried that momentum into consecutive feature race wins at Albert Park. Throughout the season, Bortoleto demonstrated remarkable consistency, scoring points in nearly every round.
Despite a non-scoring weekend at Spa-Francorchamps due to a collision with Dino Beganovic, Bortoleto maintained a commanding 38-point lead heading into the final round at Monza. With his title rivals failing to claim pole position in qualifying, Bortoleto was crowned FIA Formula 3 champion on Friday, securing his first major single-seater title.
FIA Formula 2 Championship (2024)
Moving to FIA Formula 2 with Invicta Racing in 2024, alongside Alpine Academy driver Kush Maini, Bortoleto quickly established himself as a championship contender. His maiden Formula 2 victory came at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, where he passed Joshua Dürksen and Pepe Martí to claim the win. This victory elevated him into the top three of the championship standings.
The defining moment of Bortoleto’s season occurred at Monza, where he started from last place on the grid due to a qualifying spin. Benefiting from a well-timed safety car strategy, he drove out a commanding gap to win the feature race, becoming the first driver in history to win from last on the grid in Formula 2. This performance earned him the Mecachrome Outstanding Win Award at the season-ending ceremony.
Entering the final round at Yas Island with a narrow points advantage, Bortoleto capitalized when his closest rival Isack Hadjar stalled on the grid. Finishing second in the feature race was enough to clinch the FIA Formula 2 championship, making Bortoleto the seventh driver to win the GP2/Formula 2 title in his rookie season and the second Brazilian champion in the category’s history.
Sauber Era (2025–Present)
Bortoleto signed a multi-year deal with Sauber for the 2025 Formula One season, partnering experienced German driver Nico Hülkenberg. His move came ahead of Sauber’s transition to becoming the Audi works team in 2026. As part of this transition, Bortoleto was released from the McLaren Driver Development Programme to pursue his Formula One opportunity.
On his Formula One debut at the Australian Grand Prix, Bortoleto impressed by reaching the second qualifying session and outqualifying his more experienced teammate, though he ultimately crashed out in changing race conditions. His rookie season has featured the typical learning curve, with the young Brazilian gradually adapting to Formula One machinery and securing several points finishes.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bortoleto is recognized for his calm demeanor under pressure and his exceptional racecraft in wheel-to-wheel combat. His ability to manage tyre degradation and execute strategic overtakes was evident during his Formula 2 championship campaign. Working closely with his engineering team, Bortoleto demonstrates a mature analytical approach that belies his young age, frequently staying late into curfew hours to refine his car setup.
Notable Races and Milestones
The Monza feature race in 2024 stands as Bortoleto’s career-defining moment, where his last-to-first victory rewrote Formula 2 history. His maiden points finish in Formula One at the Austrian Grand Prix made him the first Brazilian to score in the championship since 2017. The São Paulo Grand Prix, his home race, proved bittersweet, with a high-speed barrier collision in the sprint race forcing him to miss qualifying.
Gabriel Bortoleto Career Wins
Gabriel Bortoleto has accumulated victories across multiple championships, with championships in both the FIA Formula 3 and FIA Formula 2 series marking his most significant achievements. His win tally reflects consistent front-running pace in Europe’s premier junior single-seater categories.
FIA Formula 2 Highlights
Bortoleto’s 2024 FIA Formula 2 championship campaign included multiple race victories, with his Austrian Grand Prix win at the Red Bull Ring marking his first in the category. His historic last-to-first victory at Monza, where he became the first driver to win from last on the grid in Formula 2 history, stands as the highlight of his title-winning season.
Other Wins and Performances
Prior to his Formula 2 success, Bortoleto claimed the 2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship title with Trident, securing multiple feature race victories throughout the season. His earlier career featured a victory in the 2020 Italian F4 Championship at Mugello and wins in the Formula Regional Asian and European Championships, demonstrating his versatility across different racing formats.
Gabriel Bortoleto Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Bortoleto comes from a family deeply embedded in Brazilian motorsport. His father, Lincoln Oliveira, serves as CEO and co-owner of the Stock Car Pro Series and founded Americanet, a major Brazilian internet service provider. The family also operates KTF Racing, a stock car and kart racing team that has contributed to developing Brazilian racing talent.
His older brother, Enzo Bortoleto, previously competed in BRDC British Formula 3, continuing the family’s motorsport tradition. Bortoleto is known by the nickname “Bibi” among his close friends.
Personal Life
Bortoleto has been in a relationship with computer science student Isabella Bernardini since 2020. His career is supported by several Brazilian sponsors, including Porto Seguro, O Boticário, Banco de Brasília, and Qualcomm Snapdragon. He is managed by A14 Management, the firm owned by Fernando Alonso.
2025 Season Performance
Bortoleto’s 2025 rookie Formula One season with Sauber has been a steep learning curve, with the young Brazilian adapting to the demands of the world’s premier motorsport category. His campaign began promisingly at the Australian Grand Prix, where he outqualified teammate Nico Hülkenberg before crashing out in mixed conditions. Subsequent races featured a mix of alternate strategy gambles and reliability setbacks, including a fuel system issue at the Miami Grand Prix.
A significant milestone came at the Austrian Grand Prix, where Bortoleto qualified eighth and held his position to challenge Fernando Alonso for seventh place, securing his maiden Formula One points and becoming the first Brazilian to score in the championship since 2017. The Spanish Grand Prix marked another step forward, with midfield upgrades allowing Sauber to emerge as competitive competitors.
The second half of the season has shown continued progression, with a strong seventh-place qualifying performance in Hungary and points finishes in Belgium. A dramatic 57g barrier collision at the Senna S corner during the São Paulo sprint race forced him to miss qualifying for his home Grand Prix. Despite this setback, Bortoleto remains contracted to transition to the Audi works team alongside Hülkenberg for 2026, with the team positioning him as a long-term investment in their future competitiveness.