Gabriel Bortoleto stays patient, backs Audi’s long-term Formula 1 project
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 18, 2026
Bortoleto’s Audi commitment
Gabriel Bortoleto says he is committed to Audi’s long-term Formula 1 project and sees his future with the team as a chance to grow into a leader, not a stepping stone to another seat. He said he is staying patient even as Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar have already reached the podium in Formula 1, because every career path in the series develops differently. Bortoleto said drivers should be judged over the long term and that he is focused on helping Audi build toward future success. He said he wants to be ready when the team eventually wins, and he hopes to be fighting for world championships with Audi in five years. At the same time, he said being viewed as a future team leader brings “pride, not pressure.” Audi’s current place in the standings reflects a team still climbing, and Bortoleto said he wants to be part of that progress rather than chase a quick move elsewhere.
Bortoleto’s patience and perspective
Bortoleto’s message is rooted in perspective. He said he wants to score points in Formula 1 first and has had to adjust to a season in which consistency matters more than the wins he was used to in junior categories. At the time of the article, he stood 15th in the drivers’ standings, a position that fits the learning curve he described rather than the expectations that can come with a season in Formula 1. He said he remains motivated by advice from Mattia Binotto and Max Verstappen. Bortoleto also made clear that he never had a Plan B before reaching Formula 1, which adds weight to the commitment he has shown since joining the championship. For him, the target is not just to stay in the field. It is to build a career strong enough to matter when Audi gets where it wants to go.
Bortoleto’s rise and milestones
The path to Formula 1 has already included several defining moments. Bortoleto said he is happy to be in Formula 1 after winning the 2023 Formula 3 title and the 2024 Formula 2 title. He also pointed to his 2024 Monza Formula 2 victory after a qualifying setback as an important moment in securing his Formula 1 opportunity. He said the emotion of learning he would race full time in 2025 stayed with him. Bortoleto credited his family’s sacrifices for helping him get there. He now finds himself in a season centered on points, learning how to translate junior-category success into results while Audi sits eighth in the constructors’ championship and keeps building for the future.
