Gabriel Bortoleto’s last two appearances on the Monza circuit, stage of the Italian Grand Prix, are among the most notable moments in his professional career. The driver shared this perspective on September 3, 2026, during the official Formula 1 interview session in the paddock of the Italian race track.
In 2024, despite starting from the last position on the grid, the Brazilian competitor achieved victory in the Formula 2 race, a feat that propelled him towards the category title and guaranteed his place as a starting driver in the Sauber team in the following year.
In 2025, when making his Formula 1 debut in Monza, Bortoleto shone again, securing seventh position on the starting grid, which equaled his maximum performance for Sauber in Hungary. In the race, he finished eighth, surpassing Kimi Antonelli, from Mercedes, who crossed the line in ninth.
Despite this positive history, the Brazilian driver anticipates a demanding weekend. Audi, in its debut year in the category, still seeks to match its competitors in engine performance. This factor gains special weight at Monza, a track characterized by long straights and high-speed sections, where the power of the unit is crucial to achieving a good result.
Gabriel Bortoleto expressed confidence that Audi’s current phase, marked by scores in the last four races of the 2026 season, could propel him and Nico Hulkenberg to overcome the team’s disadvantage in the straights, seeking another top-10. “We know that Monza will not be a simple track, but we need to strive to improve our weak points, so to speak,” he said. “For this stage, we are introducing a new gear ratio, which will be relevant to the car’s handling, an aspect that has been our focus this year. With this, we hope to fight for good results and maintain the sequence of races scoring points, both with me and Nico in the last two races.”
The new gear configuration, which Audi will implement at Monza, can also optimize performance at the starts, a relevant point for Bortoleto and Hulkenberg. However, the Brazilian believes that the improvement will be gradual and that the real effectiveness of the change can only be assessed after the weekend’s training. “The modification we made was identified at the beginning of the year to improve overall drivability,” explained Bortoleto. “This is the main focus of our work with the engine. I don’t think it will drastically transform our starts, but I believe it will help us to be more constant and keep the car stable in different track conditions, both dry and wet. The team has dedicated a lot to this. The truth is that we are still a little behind, and we need to keep working to bring new things and improve our performance in the future.”
The driver recalled that expectations were also low for high-speed tracks such as Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps, where, however, he managed to score points in both Grands Prix. “On circuits like Spa and Silverstone, where I expected not to have speed due to the many straights, I ended up surprising myself”, he commented. “So, I don’t know. In Monza, of course, it’s not the best route for our current group. Even so, I don’t rule out a good result. If we execute everything perfectly and position ourselves well in qualifying, we can compete for points in the race. But it certainly won’t be simple. It’s no secret that we have a power disadvantage in the engine, but we’ll try to compensate as much as we can in the corners.”
The Monza stage has a special meaning for Bortoleto due to its deep connection with Italy. It was in the European country that he lived since he was 12 years old, beginning his international career in karting, competing in renowned tournaments such as the WSK (World Series Karting) and paving his way to Formula 1.
The Audi driver revealed that he sees the weekend in Monza as a “second Grand Prix at home”. “Yes, we can consider it as a second race at home,” said Bortoleto. “It’s a very special place: I lived in Italy for almost seven years and I’ve always had good results in Monza, which makes me really enjoy competing here. It’s a place that evokes great memories and a lot of joy, and I hope we can continue achieving good results, as in previous years. I always come here with a different perception, I meet a lot of people I know and I love racing in Monza. I believe I had one of my best races in Formula 2 at this circuit. Last year, in Formula 1, was also quite exciting: qualifying, being so close to the first, with minimal differences. It was very rewarding, even during the test.”
The Brazilian driver was asked about the unique design of the Italian Grand Prix winner’s trophy, which attracted attention for its originality. Although he admitted that “trophy is not really his style”, Bortoleto confessed that he would be extremely pleased to win one this weekend. “It’s quite peculiar,” he said. “Sometimes having something distinctive isn’t that unflattering. To be honest, it’s not my favorite, but if I win, I’ll be really happy.”
