Brazilian showed very promising performance in practice and qualifying, but finished outside the points in the final race

Gabriel Bortoleto wrapped up his debut Formula 1 season this Sunday (7) at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the 24th and final round of the 2025 World Championship. The Brazilian driver, the country’s sole representative in the category, crossed the finish line in 12th place, just two positions short of the points-scoring zone at the Yas Marina Circuit.

The weekend began extremely well for Bortoleto. In Friday’s free practice sessions, the Brazilian showed consistency and speed, finishing 7th in FP1 (1:24.742) and 6th in FP2 (1:23.570). “Overall, Friday was a very positive day. Obviously there were still some fine adjustments to make for Saturday, but it was very productive—we focused on understanding the balance both with high fuel and low fuel,” Gabriel commented after the first day of running.

On Saturday, the driver maintained his strong pace in FP3, setting the 11th-fastest time before delivering a memorable qualifying session. Gabriel advanced through all three qualifying stages and secured 7th on the starting grid with a lap of 1:22.904. “It is great to end the season with a qualifying like this. The whole session was incredibly tight: we were just a few thousandths away from being knocked out in Q1, then we nailed a mega lap in Q2 and stayed strong in Q3 as well,” the Brazilian celebrated after qualifying.
Sunday’s race, however, did not reflect the performance shown throughout the weekend. From the opening lap, Bortoleto struggled with porpoising in the car, which compromised his pace and prevented the team from maximizing the potential displayed on previous days. The Brazilian finished the race in 12th place, narrowly missing out on points.

“I will not lie—it is a bit disappointing to have finished outside the points today. Unfortunately, we struggled with porpoising from the first lap, and I do not think we maximized our race the way we should have. It is a shame, because the car was incredible yesterday and I really felt we could have scored some points today,” Gabriel reflected after the race.

Despite frustration with the final result, the Brazilian made sure to highlight the positive aspects of his rookie Formula 1 season. “Looking back at my first Formula 1 season, it was a special year for me, with several good results and strong qualifying sessions, so there is definitely a lot to be proud of—I could not have done it without the team’s support. It was a good and valuable year. The season is over now, and I’m looking forward to our future. I am already excited to start working on next year and, hopefully, fight for bigger things.”

Gabriel Bortoleto also expressed his gratitude to Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber for everything he learned throughout 2025: “I want to immensely thank the entire Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber team for their commitment, dedication, and guidance throughout this season. Every team member played a key role in my development as a driver. I learned a lot, grew a lot, and I carry with me experiences that will be valuable throughout my entire career. Now, with my eyes on 2026 and the new challenge with Audi F1, I am sure all this learning will be the foundation for us to pursue even better and more promising results. I am motivated and ready for what is ahead.”

Starting in 2026, Gabriel Bortoleto will race for Audi F1, beginning a new chapter in his career in the top category of world motorsport.

Pictures: Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber
Press office of Gabriel Bortoleto
Responsible journalist: Flávio Quick