Gabriel Bortoleto, the 20-year-old Brazilian driver for the Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, arrives at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya determined to continue his impressive learning journey during his rookie Formula 1 season. The São Paulo native, who became the first Brazilian to win back-to-back F3 (2023) and F2 (2024) titles as a rookie, has shown remarkable maturity and dedication in his first eight races in motorsport’s top series.

SEASON OVERVIEW

In his debut F1 season, Bortoleto has impressed with his consistency and quick adaptation to the complexities of the premier category. The young Brazilian has stood out for his ability to extract the maximum from the car in every session, showcasing the talent that led him to become a champion in the junior categories.

The strong partnership formed with the team’s CEO, Mattia Binotto, and team principal, Jonathan Wheatley, has been crucial for the driver’s ongoing development. Binotto, with his extensive experience at Ferrari, has been a valuable mentor in Bortoleto’s transition to F1, while Wheatley, known for his strategic work at Red Bull Racing, has significantly contributed to refining the Brazilian’s racecraft.

“Gabriel has shown impressive maturity for someone so young. His ability to absorb information and apply it quickly on track is exceptional,” commented Mattia Binotto on the Brazilian driver’s performance.

THE BARCELONA CHALLENGE

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is one of the most technically demanding tracks on the F1 calendar. Spanning 4.657 kilometers with 14 corners of varying radii and characteristics, the Catalan layout has long been known as a true testing ground for teams, having hosted pre-season testing for many years.

The Spanish circuit is considered one of the most complete on the calendar, requiring a perfect blend of technical skill, tire management, and precision from drivers. Its mix of high, medium, and low-speed corners provides a comprehensive test for both cars and drivers, serving as a reliable indicator of each team’s real competitiveness.

Sunday’s race will be held over 66 laps, with the track record held by Dutch driver Max Verstappen, who clocked a 1:16.330 lap time. For Bortoleto, Barcelona represents another valuable opportunity for learning and development on a circuit where every technical detail can make the difference between gaining or losing points.

SCHEDULE AND BROADCAST IN BRAZIL

Brazilian fans will be able to follow all of Gabriel Bortoleto’s weekend activities with full broadcast coverage. Friday and Saturday’s practice sessions will be aired live on the Band Sports subscription channel, while qualifying and the race will be broadcast on free-to-air TV by Band.

OFFICIAL SCHEDULE (Brasília time):
Friday (May 30)
Free Practice 1: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Free Practice 2: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Saturday (May 31)
Free Practice 3: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Qualifying: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sunday (June 1)
Race: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

WEEKEND EXPECTATIONS

Gabriel Bortoleto arrives in Barcelona focused on continuing his learning and development process in F1. The young Brazilian is determined to make the most of every session to further adapt to the car and build on his work with Sauber. “I’m looking forward to Barcelona – it’s a track I’ve raced on a few times in junior categories, so I know what to expect. Monaco was quite challenging, but we’ve learned from the weekend’s lessons and are heading into a new race week – the last of a busy triple-header. We have some upgrades coming for this round, so the focus will be on getting familiar with them right away while continuing to work on the car and its setup to improve our qualifying and race position,” Bortoleto said.
With the unconditional support of the Brazilian fans and the expertise of a top-level technical team, Gabriel Bortoleto is preparing for another important weekend in his promising Formula 1 career.

Pictures: Stake F1 Team | Kick Sauber

Press office of Gabriel Bortoleto
Responsible journalist: Flávio Quick