AUSTIN – Gabriel Bortoleto has experienced both the highs and lows of life on the Formula 1 grid.
The second-year driver is part of one of the grid’s newest projects, a driver for the Audi team that debuted as a works operation for the 2026 season. But a year ago, Bortoleto drove for Sauber alongside Nico Hülkenberg in that team’s final year on the grid. That season, Bortoleto competed in strong form midway through the campaign, scoring points in four of the six races from Austria to Monza.
Although he started this year scoring points at the Australian Grand Prix, Bortoleto has only finished in the top ten twice since then, finishing P8 at the British Grand Prix and P8 at the Belgian Grand Prix.
However, while the results weren’t what he wanted, the Brazilian driver said there was “beauty” in the trip.
“Obviously I want to win races, but at the same time, there’s a beauty to what I’m doing right now, you know, building the project,” Bortoleto told media including SB Nation at Thursday’s US Grand Prix.
“I’m sure everyone wants to see immediate results and win races. I’m happy for Kimi [Antonelli]for example. We raced together in F2 and now the guy is about to win, he’s going to be world champion this year. And it’s definitely a big deal, you know. You achieve your lifelong goal, which is to become the Formula 1 world champion. But I think we all have our own journey, so I would take mine, you know, and I just have to keep doing what I’m doing and building a great project with a brand that’s been successful in sports in all the categories that they’re a part of.
You know, one day I’ll be able to tell the story that we were the worst team in the championship standings until 2024 and we brought this team in to win races.
“I think it’s a great story to be able to tell one day, but there’s a lot of work to be done to be able to tell that story, so obviously I want to fight for wins and podiums as soon as possible. That’s my main goal and we’re working on it.”
As for Audi’s chances at the United States Grand Prix, Bortoleto admitted he didn’t want to be in the business of making predictions because he’s made mistakes in the past this year, but the American circuit should be a good track for him and the team.
“I think I stopped trying to guess when we were good or bad, because I think every time I said something, it was the opposite. Honestly, look, at the end of the day, it has to be a good track. You know, this track has a lot of corners, high speeds, medium speeds, a few low speeds. [corners]so this is, you know, a track that can put our car in a position to perform,” Bortoleto said.
“But there’s always something new when we’re driving, you know. There’s always great lessons and interesting things when we go out on a new track with these new rules for the cars. I’m sure it’s not just for us, it’s for everybody.
“Yes, I hope it will be a good weekend. I hope we will have a performance to deliver and I believe.
“So let’s work on it.”
For Bortoleto, that process begins Friday.
But the journey will extend beyond the first day of the 2026 US Grand Prix.
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