Brazilian driver faced a challenging weekend in Las Vegas, the 22nd round of the World Championship
Las Vegas hosted, on Saturday night (22), the 22nd round of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, in a vibrant, modern setting surrounded by some of the most iconic streets in the United States. The brand-new urban circuit on the calendar proved challenging from start to finish, demanding quick adaptation from drivers and teams.

Competing on the circuit for the first time, Gabriel Bortoleto used the free practice sessions and qualifying to evolve lap by lap, collecting essential data and experience in this final phase of his rookie F1 season. Alongside the Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, the driver worked consistently to extract the maximum from the equipment and understand the particularities of the track.

However, the race was short-lived for the Brazilian. Right in the first corner, Bortoleto was involved in an incident with Canadian driver Lance Stroll, resulting in an immediate retirement. Despite the setback, he showed maturity in addressing the episode, emphasizing that situations like this are part of the development process in the category.

“I need to put together everything from the last two races of the season — clean laps, complete weekends. Each round has been a valuable opportunity to gain experience, and I remain determined to improve, reset when necessary, and return to the performance level I have already shown throughout the year. Learning and focus are essential, and that is the mindset I am taking with me to Doha next week,” said the 21-year-old driver.

From the team’s side, operations chief Jonathan Weathley reinforced the work carried out and also praised the driver’s attitude. “It was another mixed weekend for the team. We went into the race with a well-defined strategy, and the track played a central role in our decisions. The unique surface led us to focus heavily on tire behavior throughout the weekend. We leave Las Vegas with 64 points, reducing the gap to our direct competitors in the Constructors’ Championship, with only two rounds remaining in the season.”

While Gabriel exited the race on the opening lap, the exciting Las Vegas GP continued through all 50 laps, with victory for Dutchman Max Verstappen, who delivered yet another dominant performance this season.
With the championship entering its decisive stretch, Formula 1 now heads to Doha, Qatar, for the penultimate round of the year. Gabriel arrives in the Middle East fully focused on turning accumulated experience into consistency, seeking a positive end to the season and demonstrating—on and off the track—the professional, disciplined, and resilient approach that has marked his journey so far.

Pictures: Stake F1 Team | Kick Sauber

Press office of Gabriel Bortoleto
Responsible journalist: Flávio Quick