Bortoleto Calls Bruising Brazil GP 'Most Amazing Experience'

Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto's first home Grand Prix was a weekend of stark contrasts. Despite suffering two major crashes at Interlagos, the Brazilian driver was overwhelmed by the passionate support from his home crowd, calling it the most amazing experience of his life and a dream come true.

Why it matters:

A home race in Formula 1 is a unique pressure cooker, blending immense national expectation with a driver's personal emotions. Bortoleto's ability to find a positive takeaway amidst on-track disaster showcases his maturity and resilience. It also highlights the profound, symbiotic relationship between a driver and their fans, a powerful force that can transcend race results.

The details:

• Sprint Race Crash: Bortoleto survived a terrifying 57G high-speed crash during the sprint. While he was unharmed and cleared to race, the incident forced him to miss qualifying as the team repaired the car.
• Grand Prix Incident: Starting 18th, his race ended on the opening lap after he ran onto the grass, lost traction, and hit the wall.
• Fan Support: Despite the results, Bortoleto was deeply moved by the crowd. "To hear that crowd cheering my name... it's just a dream coming true," he said, reflecting on his journey from a fan in the stands to a driver on the grid.

Looking ahead:

Bortoleto remains positive about his rookie campaign with Sauber, feeling he "achieved a lot" with a car that was not initially a point-scoring contender. He pointed to a strong mid-season run where he delivered "amazing performances" and secured valuable points for the team. The team has since halted development on the 2024 car to focus on 2025, a strategic shift that Bortoleto acknowledges has caused them to lose some ground to rivals who continued to upgrade. His focus now is on building on this year's lessons and contributing to Sauber's future ambitions.