Kick Sauber has been navigating a challenging season in Formula 2, but the outfit's resilience is embodied by their young Brazilian driver, Gabriel Bortoleto. Stepping into the high-pressure world of F2 as a rookie is no easy feat, especially in a year when the grid is arguably stronger than ever and technical variables have shifted the competitive landscape. Yet, Bortoleto’s unwavering determination and clear-eyed self-assessment are keeping hopes high for the Swiss-based squad as the season progresses.
After a testing start to his debut campaign, Bortoleto has quickly established himself as one of the standout rookies of 2024. As the championship heads into its summer phase, the Brazilian talent has managed to extract consistent points finishes—despite a car that currently faces performance deficits compared to some of the championship’s leading teams. The 19-year-old’s composure and adaptability are underscored by the team’s own expectations: they planned for a steep learning curve, acknowledging before the season began that a tough fight lay ahead.
What sets Bortoleto apart is not just his natural speed, but his pragmatic approach to development. His feedback has been instrumental in directing the technical team’s focus and finding race-by-race improvements. While outright pace is still elusive, the partnership between driver and engineers has seen incremental gains that keep Kick Sauber in the hunt for a solid mid-season resurgence.
It’s not just raw data that brings optimism to Hinwil, but Bortoleto’s confidence and clarity off track as well. Speaking candidly about the challenges, he’s never shied away from the reality of Sauber’s situation: the car isn’t at its peak yet. However, he has repeatedly emphasized the collective belief within the team that they can rebound and challenge for higher positions. In his words, persistence and trust in the development process are the keys to success—echoing a mantra that has served countless greats in motorsport history.
The F2 field this year is daunting, with several drivers boasting experience and outfits with superior resources. Nonetheless, Bortoleto’s ability to mix it up in qualifying and in racecraft has drawn praise across the paddock. His decision-making in wheel-to-wheel combat and patient approach to tire management has resulted in strategic gains on Sundays. These are hallmarks of a driver who understands that championship campaigns are marathons and not sprints—a mature philosophy for someone in just his first season at this level.
Sauber’s technical team, meanwhile, has responded to on-track frustrations with urgency, introducing updated components and setup changes at every round. There’s recognition internally that bridging the gap to the powerhouse teams will take time, but the culture at Kick Sauber is fiercely ambitious. With Bortoleto at the helm, the mood remains one of resolve rather than resignation.
Looking forward, the team’s near-term goals focus on maximizing every points opportunity while seeking that breakthrough weekend that could change the momentum entirely. And in Formula 2, as fans are well aware, fortunes can swing dramatically with just a single strong result. For Hungarian fans and all F1 enthusiasts, Bortoleto’s trajectory offers the kind of underdog story that resonates: a young racer with the skill and mentality to rewrite expectations, steering a hungry team towards a brighter future.
As the season unfolds, the eyes of the paddock—and hopeful supporters—will remain on Kick Sauber and their determined rookie. Given their work ethic and optimism, don’t be surprised if this partnership delivers the surprise result of the year. Formula 2 is all about opportunity, and Gabriel Bortoleto is ready to seize it.
