Gabriel Bortoleto is on the verge of winning the Formula 2 championship in his first season with Invicta Racing.
The Brazilian has been ultra-impressive throughout the year, developing his skillset and improving his consistency.
He was so good in Italy, that he managed to win the feature race from 22nd on the grid, earning himself the top spot in the drivers’ championship.
Now he has earned himself a promotion to Formula 1 with Sauber, who will become Audi in the 2026 season.
Sauber not concerned about Gabriel Bortoleto Formula 2 finish
With two rounds of the Formula 2 season to go at Qatar and Abu Dhabi, there’s no guarantee Bortoleto will claim the title.
Isack Hadjar trails him by 3.5 points, having held the championship lead for most of the season – setting up a tense finish under the lights.
Two victories and five podiums suggest that he should have the pace to continue to compete in the desert.
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However, Auto Motor und Sport is reporting that Sauber are not concerned whether Bortoleto wins the Formula 2 championship or whether he ends up as runner-up.
That takes some pressure off of his shoulders and allows him to focus purely on driving without any tough expectations.
How Bortoleto can develop in 2025
Alongside the experienced Nico Hulkenberg, Bortoleto can learn a lot in his rookie season before the technical regulations change.
He’s part of a new generation of drivers that are the future of the sport and should be in this game for the long haul.
The likes of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto all join Bortoleto in being the men of the future.
They all have a great opportunity over the coming years to announce themselves on the scene against proven champions such as Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen.
2025 will be the year for them to embed themselves within the sport slowly, and take time to build their speed up before making a big push in 2026.