Gabriel Bortoleto 'Lucky' to Escape Terrifying 57G Airborne Crash Unscathed

Gabriel Bortoleto recounted his fortunate escape from a terrifying 57G airborne crash during the São Paulo Sprint race, expressing relief at sustaining no serious injuries despite the dramatic incident at Interlagos. The crash, which occurred on the final lap, saw his car make heavy contact with barriers after an initial snap on a damp track section, before becoming momentarily airborne. Despite the severity, Bortoleto was quickly cleared from the medical center.

Why it matters:

• Bortoleto's miraculous escape highlights the ever-present dangers in motorsport, even with modern safety advancements, and underscores the fragility of a driver's career in high-stakes racing.
• The incident, in front of his home crowd, also showcased the immense effort and tight deadlines faced by F1 teams to repair heavily damaged cars between sessions, emphasizing the dedication of the pit crew.

The Details:

• On the final lap of the São Paulo Sprint, Bortoleto was battling Alex Albon and Isack Hadjar on a damp section of the Interlagos circuit.
• His Stake F1 car snapped upon braking, sending him into the inside wall, then bouncing back across the track.
• The car went airborne after making substantial contact with the outer barrier of the first corner.
• Despite the harrowing 57G impact, Bortoleto was able to exit the car and was cleared from the medical center after precautionary checks.
• Driver's Account: Bortoleto stated he felt 'normal pain' akin to other race weekends, attributing his quick recovery to luck, acknowledging the potential for much worse outcomes.
• Team's Effort: Stake F1's mechanics worked heroically, attempting to repair his completely wrecked car within a mere three hours for qualifying.
• Near Miss: Bortoleto was strapped into the car as qualifying neared its end, but the team determined they needed another 20-30 minutes for a proper, safe repair.
  • The team's intention was likely to test if the car was functional rather than ready for competitive running, given the extensive rebuild required.

What's next:

Bortoleto's quick recovery is a testament to both his resilience and the robust safety standards in Formula 1. While this particular incident is behind him, it serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved. For Stake F1, the event highlighted their crew's incredible dedication under pressure, though the inability to make qualifying underscores the limits of even the most determined efforts when facing significant damage and tight schedules. The focus will now shift to future races, with an emphasis on ensuring both driver safety and car reliability moving forward.