When a rookie enters Formula 1, the spotlight often shines as much on how they handle pressure as it does on their outright pace. For Gabriel Bortoleto, the 21-year-old Brazilian making his debut season with Kick Sauber, that scrutiny has only revealed an unusual calmness and an ability to learn fast. According to Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley, that maturity has been the most striking element of Bortoleto’s first year in the sport.
Wheatley, who joined Kick Sauber earlier this year after a long stint in senior management roles within F1, says Bortoleto’s mindset and methodical approach have exceeded expectations. “It’s the maturity that I’ve been the most surprised by,” he said during the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. “When you consider his age, the way he handles things – the frustration, the natural things you’d imagine from a driver in his first season – he handles them with such maturity.”
Bortoleto’s rookie year has not just been about staying consistent but about building a foundation within a team that is itself transitioning. Kick Sauber, previously known as Alfa Romeo, has been undergoing internal restructuring while positioning itself for its Audi-backed future. Amid those changes, Bortoleto has been one of the few constants — methodical in his preparation, reliable in his racecraft, and relentlessly focused on incremental improvement.
So far, Bortoleto has finished in the points five times, including a standout P6 in Hungary. His partnership with the experienced Nico Hulkenberg has yielded 60 points for the team, an impressive total for a midfield outfit still searching for long-term stability. For Wheatley, the young driver’s work ethic has been as impressive as his composure. “If he can be in the simulator, he’s in the simulator,” he said. “And I think on top of that, the way he’s knitting his engineering team around him – the way they’re working together – is hugely encouraging as well.”
There’s a tendency in F1 to measure rookies by how quickly they can produce standout performances, but Wheatley’s praise suggests a deeper appreciation for how Bortoleto learns and adapts. He doesn’t rush into high-risk situations and tends to build confidence lap by lap. That was evident in some of the trickiest circuits on the calendar. “When he’s at a tricky circuit, he builds up to it,” Wheatley explained. “Monaco, he built up to it – his only contact with the barrier was in the race. Same in Baku, same in Singapore. He just has such a mature approach.”
The comment points to a driver who understands that Formula 1 isn’t just about raw speed, but about the ability to manage pressure, adjust to changing conditions, and think strategically. It’s this steadiness that has helped Bortoleto avoid the mistakes that can easily derail a rookie season.
Kick Sauber’s overall campaign has been solid rather than spectacular, but in a midfield that has become one of the most competitive in recent years, that’s hardly a disappointment. The fight for sixth in the Constructors’ Championship remains open, with just a handful of points separating several teams. Wheatley has made it clear that the focus remains on execution, not ambition. “We’re taking it a race at a time,” he said. “It’s so close. The margins are so close. It’ll come down to who makes the fewest mistakes.”
That philosophy mirrors Bortoleto’s own driving style. Rather than chasing headline results, he has concentrated on consistency, avoiding unforced errors, and developing a deeper understanding of the car’s behavior. That kind of mindset could be crucial in the next few seasons, especially as the team prepares for a new regulatory cycle and its transformation into Audi’s factory outfit.
While it’s still early days, Bortoleto’s first year already places him among the more disciplined rookies to have entered F1 in recent memory. His ability to adapt to complex street circuits like Monaco and Singapore, while maintaining steady performances at traditional venues, has built a quiet sense of confidence around him. For Kick Sauber, his development offers a glimpse of the kind of driver who can anchor a project in transition, someone focused not just on immediate results, but on long-term growth.
