F3 champion Gabriel Bortoleto is on the F1 trail – 01/09/2023 – Sport

Before debuting in F3, Gabriel Bortoleto studied the last seasons of the championship that is on the access line to F1. At 18, he didn’t want to be just a debutante in this year’s edition. His goal was to fight for the title, unprecedented for Brazilian motorsport.

Therefore, it sought to understand what was decisive for each of the recent champions. So he came to the conclusion that consistency would be the key to success.

“In the last championships, the pilots who led had many mistakes, crashes and stages without scoring”, observed Gabriel to the Sheet. “A lot of times it’s not about winning a race, but always getting into the top five so a leader can keep his advantage. That’s what I’ve done this whole year.”

It was also what he did this Friday (1st), with fifth place in qualifying training. As the pole position (which is worth two points) did not go to the Estonian Paul Aron or the Spaniard Pepe Martí, no one else can catch the São Paulo native.

“For a long time this year, I couldn’t risk certain things,” he acknowledged. Relieved, he feels free to fight for victories in the sprint race this Saturday (2) and in the long race on Sunday (3).

“I would love to show more aggression,” he said. “Of course, I’m going to use my head not to cause crashes, no problem, but I’m going to risk more, to make beautiful overtakes and everything that this year, during many stages, I couldn’t do, to add points.”

Pilot of the Italian team Trident Racing, the Brazilian has led the competition since the first weekend of the calendar, which opened in Bahrain. In addition to winning his debut race, he won the next stage in Australia.

From then on, he realized that he shouldn’t risk it anymore. With intelligence and patience, she dedicated herself to adding points in the other tests.

In addition to following the strategy laid out before the competition, the driver also took into account the advice he received from the Spaniard Fernando Alonso, owner of A14 Management, a driver agency company founded by the two-time F1 champion, responsible for taking care of the career of the São Paulo driver.

“He always made it clear that I had to score and that I had to be consistent. That’s something you see in him even today. He’s one of the most consistent people in F1,” said the Brazilian.

At the age of 41, the Aston Martin driver is currently third in the F1 World Championship, behind only Max Verstappen and Sérgio Pérez, both from the hegemonic Red Bull.

“Fernando has already given me very important driving tips, like the races in Bahrain and Australia, which he knows very well”, reported Gabriel.

Alonso’s support was also fundamental for the next step in the Brazilian’s trajectory. Even before the title is confirmed, he has already guaranteed his presence in the 2024 F2. Although he cannot yet reveal the team he will race with, he is confident: “It’s a great team”.

Whatever the team, his stance will be the same as seen this year. When he’s not on the slopes, he’ll spend as much time as possible on the simulators. That’s how he believes he can develop his technique.

“I’m a guy who is, shall we say, a workaholic with preparation,” he said. “Today, I don’t see any driver in F3, or in F2, who does as much simulator work as I do. Much less in F1. Well, maybe Verstappen.”

Asked if he has the Dutchman as inspiration in that regard, Gabriel says it’s just a coincidence, although he values ​​the dedication of the two-time champion. “When a champion like him does that, you know it’s not wrong, right?”

Recognizing people’s virtues is a skill he has developed since he was a child. “One thing I learned from my father is to observe where I am, who is around and how people behave,” he said. “It’s also like that on the track, analyzing a driver’s laps, seeing where he brakes, where he turns the car.”

Before reaching F3, Gabriel used this to stand out in national and European karting, until he reached the Formula championships in 2020, when he competed in the Italian F4.

Afterwards, he stood out in the European Regional Formula, where he aroused the interest of F3 teams, such as Trident, runner-up in 2022.

Talent alone, however, will not be enough for him to reach his big goal, to reach F1. Since 2017, when Felipe Massa said goodbye to the category, Brazil has been on a hiatus on the grid, although good names have emerged, such as Felipe Drugovich, F2 champion in 2022.

The financial aspect became a major obstacle for Brazilians. According to a survey by the company DNA Racing, which specializes in monitoring the career of pilots, the path to F1 can cost at least 11.9 million euros (R$ 63.98 million).

The value considers the general costs to race four years of karting in the country, two years of karting in Europe, two years of F4, two years of Formula Regional, two years of F3 and two years of F2.

On the eve of confirming the F3 title, however, Gabriel Bortoleto closed a sponsorship agreement with the BRB bank, from Brasília, which promises to financially support the young man until he reaches the main category of motorsport. “I’m extremely happy to have them on board with me.”