Gabriel Bortoleto doesn’t think it will be pressure in F1 2026 in his second season, but more a responsibility especially representing a brand like Audi.
Having gone through his rookie F1 season, there is usually less pressure on youngsters in terms of delivery if they have had a good first year. Sauber’s Bortoleto started a tad slow, but picked up well as the season went on, especially post the Barcelona upgrade.
He matched Nico Hulkenberg on qualifying front, but lost out in race trim overall. But he proved his credentials of being a F3 and F2 champion. Now in his second season, he expects the pressure to not be about delivering, but more about responsibilities.
Since he will be driving for a brand like Audi, he can’t afford to make too many mistakes, while his learning will continue. “Well, I wouldn’t say pressure,” said Bortoleto to media. “Obviously, in a rookie season, there are some things that you can do that you can get away with this. But still, I believe I will have a lot of learnings still to do next year.
“I think this is still going to be only my second year in Formula 1. It’s the beginning of a career. There are people here for more than 15, 20 years. So there is still a big gap. And it keeps the same, because they are still racing. But I wouldn’t say pressure. I think with the brand, Audi coming up and everything, there will definitely be more responsibilities to take and to do.
“I think it’s the start of a project and a new generation of cars and everything. So, for sure we are going to have the pressure, if you want to call it like that, of developing a good car, power unit and everything, to be fighting for a world title one day,” summed up Bortoleto, who thinks it is positive that he is entering a new generation of cars in only his second season.
He doesn’t see it as a problem since in the last three seasons, he has driven different cars in F3, F2 and F1, and has done well for himself. He feels 2026 will be a similar trend with a brand new car. “Look, I think it’s positive, because I’ve been jumping in new cars for three seasons in a row now,” continued Bortoleto to media. “So when I jump in the car of this year in Formula 1, the more experienced drivers that have been driving these regulations for what, since 2022 now.
“So next year is a bit of a reset to everyone. I think it’s positive, because I’ve done this in F3, I’ve done this in F2, I’ve driven a new car in F1 and I think driving a new car in F1, getting a beginning of a new regulation, it’s incredible, an incredible opportunity,” summed up Bortoleto.
Here’s drivers’ tier system
Here’s teams’ tier system
Here’s praise from Nico Hulkenberg, Jonathan Wheatley of Gabriel Bortoleto
Here’s Gabriel Bortoleto on rookie learning
