Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto wrapped up his participation this Sunday (19) in the 19th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, held at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas (USA). During a Sprint-format weekend, the Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber driver faced a demanding schedule but showed steady progress and consistency in his first experience at the challenging North American circuit.
Friday began on a promising note, with Bortoleto finishing the sole practice session in 12th place (1:34.478), displaying strong initial adaptation to the track. However, a fast lap deleted for exceeding track limits and a compromised second attempt prevented him from advancing to SQ2, leaving the Brazilian without a recorded time in Sprint qualifying.

On Saturday, during the Sprint Race, Gabriel delivered a solid performance, avoiding incidents and climbing nine positions to finish 11th, just outside of the points. The result highlighted the young driver’s recovery skills and provided valuable data for car setup ahead of the main qualifying session. Later that day, in Grand Prix qualifying, Bortoleto secured 16th position (1:34.125), missing the Q2 cutoff by less than half a second.

Starting from P16 in Sunday’s main race, Gabriel opted for an alternative strategy, beginning on soft tires that allowed him to gain positions in the opening laps. However, a slow first pit stop and the team’s decision not to take advantage of a Virtual Safety Car window compromised his race. Even so, the Brazilian maintained a consistent pace and, after 56 laps, crossed the finish line in 18th place.

“It was a demanding weekend, especially with the Sprint format and being my first time racing in Austin. I think we showed good signs of progress, particularly in race pace and tire management. We could have made better use of the Virtual Safety Car opportunity, but the important thing is that we keep learning and improving round after round. I want to thank the team for their effort and trust — we move forward with our heads held high and full focus on Mexico,” said Gabriel Bortoleto.

Despite missing out on points, Bortoleto’s performance was viewed positively within the team, particularly for the progress shown throughout the sessions.

“It was a weekend of contrasts. Nico had an excellent performance and deserved the points, while Gabi had a frustrating Sunday, hampered by a slow stop and the missed Virtual Safety Car opportunity. Even so, he showed maturity, especially on Saturday, with a strong recovery in the Sprint. There is a lot to take away and learn for Mexico, and that is what matters most right now,” assessed Jonathan Weathley, Team Manager of Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber.

With the United States Grand Prix now concluded, the championship heads next to Mexico City, host of the 20th round of the 2025 season, scheduled for next weekend.

Press office of Gabriel Bortoleto
Responsible journalist: Flávio Quick