Brazilian driver from Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber stands out in qualifying but, in a highly eventful race, goes off track and does not finish.

The F1 World Championship kicked off this weekend, from March 14 to 16, with the races at the Albert Park Circuit in Australia. Making his official debut in the world’s pinnacle motorsport competition, Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto delivered a commendable performance throughout the event, emphasizing a significant learning experience.

As is customary in F1, Friday saw the cars hit the track for two free practice sessions. With full support from the Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, Bortoleto conducted various setup tests on car #5, preparing for both qualifying and the race. He completed a total of 51 laps, finishing the first session in 15th place and the second in 18th.

Bortoleto reflected on the day’s activities:
“We tested a few different things, especially in FP2, focusing on gathering as much data as possible to understand what works best and identify areas for improvement. It was a valuable day for learning about the car and track conditions.”

On Saturday, during the third practice session, Gabriel once again followed his engineering team’s guidance to the letter. With a lap time of 1m16.707s, he finished in 11th place and headed into qualifying with confidence. Maintaining his focus, the driver overcame the challenges of Q1 and, in his very first F1 qualifying session, advanced to Q2, securing a celebrated 15th place.

“We did a decent job as a team, maximizing what we learned from the three practice sessions. Q1 went well, we put everything together, and we made it to Q2. I think reaching Q2 in my first-ever qualifying session is definitely not bad. I wanted to push for Q3 and tried a bit too hard on my lap. Overall, we can be satisfied with the work we did today. Looking ahead to tomorrow, there’s a high chance of rain—anything can happen,” analyzed the 20-year-old driver.
A race full of learning

Formula 1 brings together the best drivers and teams in the world for a reason. On a Sunday marked by heavy rain, the first race of the 2025 season was filled with challenges: a very wet track, multiple accidents, several Safety Car interventions, different tire strategies—everything happening at over 300 km/h during Bortoleto’s first-ever Grand Prix experience.

The young driver from Osasco was having a strong race, showcasing his talent with bold overtakes and impressive lap times. However, with 15 laps remaining, he lost control after hitting a curb and crashed, forcing him to retire from the race.

“Unfortunately, the race didn’t end as we had hoped, which is a shame because things were going well for me. When the Safety Car period ended, I was right behind the pack. I tried to push forward, but I hit the curb and ended up in the wall. We knew anything could happen in these conditions—I gave it my all but pushed a little too hard. I’m happy for Nico and the team for scoring points today. He did an amazing job, and everyone deserved it, both at the track and back at our headquarters in Hinwil. Overall, I think it’s safe to say my debut weekend was positive, especially considering my qualifying result yesterday. I learned a lot, got to know the team better, and adapted to its dynamics. Now, we’ll keep working and aim for even better results in Shanghai next week,” concluded the driver, who is personally sponsored by Banco BRB, Kit Kat, and Porto.

The F1 World Championship continues next weekend, from March 21 to 23, as the Shanghai Street Circuit in China hosts the second round of the season.

Pictures: Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber | Disclosure

Press office of Gabriel Bortoleto
Responsible journalist: Flávio Quick