Bortoleto’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix Disappointment
Gabriel Bortoleto experienced a challenging debut at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, retiring from both the Sprint and main race at Interlagos. The Sauber rookie faced significant setbacks, including a major accident in the Sprint event, where he lost control on a damp track, enduring an estimated 57G impact at Turn 1.
Despite a concerted effort from his team to repair the car for qualifying, Bortoleto fell short of participating. The weekend continued to unravel when he crashed out on the opening lap of the main race while battling Lance Stroll. Bortoleto noted his frustration, stating, “Tough weekend… Just very upset because it’s in my first home race. You always expect to do a good job.”
He reflected on the severity of the weekend, labeling it as one of the toughest of his career, particularly given the presence of his fans and family. Bortoleto described the crash with Stroll as a “racing incident,” acknowledging the difficulty in judging space on the first lap. He added, “I was up two positions already… I don’t want to point fingers.”
Despite his performance, Bortoleto expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from the Interlagos crowd, emphasizing the importance of representing Brazil, marking him as the first Brazilian driver to race at home since Felipe Nasr in 2016. “Thank you… even throughout the difficult moments… It’s just incredible to see my country so happy to have someone,” he said.
Looking ahead, Bortoleto remains focused on improving for future races, determined to make his supporters proud.
