Podcast
Gabriel Bortoleto recently became the third member of the 2024 F2 grid to secure a race seat in Formula 1 for next season, and while he is delighted to have achieved such, he says this year’s title fight is still his main focus.
Bortoleto was talking on the F1 Nation podcast earlier this week with host Tom Clarkson following the announcement that he will be racing for Kick Sauber in 2025.
While he admits this has taken some pressure of his shoulders for the remainder of the season, he does not expect much to change as he sits just 4.5 points clear of Isack Hadjar in the Standings with two rounds to go.
Chasing the Dream Season 6 Episode 14: Out Today
“I am doing exactly the same things as I was doing before the announcement or before signing anything,” said Bortoleto. “I am home, spending several hours a day doing my sim, going to the gym, improving my physical preparation, so I am going to focus more on those areas.
“I don't think anything changes in my life, it's just an announcement, obviously it's very nice to be an F1 driver, but I am going to keep doing the same things I had been doing. It has been working so far, and I am going to keep my focus.
“I was driving in Qatar with the F2 car over the last two hours in the sim and I think that's the prep I need to do. My focus is even more now on this because finally I take off the pressure of the questions of are you going to be a Formula 1 driver next year or not.
“So finally, I can say yes and that's it. We don't need to talk about rumours anymore and we can just focus on what I need to.”
Explaining further why there is less pressure on him heading to Lusail and Yas Marina, Bortoleto continued: “It's not that it is going to make me a better driver but before the announcement you just don't want to leak this somewhere.
2024 F2 Highlights Part 2: Return to Europe
“You don't want the media talking about this before the actual announcement goes out because it's very bad if this happens. The teams obviously want a big boom when the announcement is out and for people to hear the announcement in that moment and not before.
“So, for me to be able to just say yeah, I am going to be in F1 next year when people ask me instead of saying maybe, we need to sign and this and that, now it's a clear answer. We can move on, next question, and it's simple, so I am able now to move with more freedom and enjoy things.”
Speaking more about the “dream” step up to Formula 1 even more, Bortoleto explained how it all came about, revealing that there were talks of him waiting until 2026 before racing full time in the top tier.
“It feels amazing,” said Bortoleto. “It's been a dream since I was very young, I started racing with the dream to reach F1 one day and now to be able to sign this contract and to be on the grid in 2025 I am very grateful, and I am looking forward to it.
READ MORE: Max Esterson to finish 2024 season with Trident
“It did happen quickly. Obviously, we have been talking for a couple of months already about what was going to happen if it was going to happen in 2026 or 2025. But I think the 2025 news came not so long ago and it feels very good.
“I didn't want to go one year without driving and now to be able to continue the momentum of driving, from F3 to F2 and now to be going to F1 next year, I think it's the best way to do it.”