The 2025 System 1 championship has witnessed a major reshuffling of skilled drivers, with a number of established names making manner for a wave of recent expertise wanting to make their mark within the sport.
Valtteri Bottas has shifted roles to turn into Mercedes’ reserve driver, whereas Kevin Magnussen will transition to racing sports activities vehicles, and Zhou Guanyu’s future stays unsure after the affirmation of the 2025 grid’s 20 drivers. It is not uncommon for rookies to begin their careers with groups behind the grid, providing them an opportunity to be taught and develop.
Nonetheless, each Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Liam Lawson will embark on the 2025 System 1 season with groups that, whereas not on the very high, possess the potential to problem for podiums, together with on the Australian Grand Prix.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ staff principal, has been cautious in managing expectations for Antonelli as he steps into System 1. However, Wolff might privately harbor hopes that Antonelli might ship an sudden end result at Albert Park.
Alongside Antonelli and Lawson, a bunch of promising rookies may also be part of the grid, together with Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar, and Gabriel Bortoleto. They may all participate within the pre-season testing in Bahrain subsequent month.
In an atypical 12 months, the System 2 champion would appeal to appreciable consideration upon arrival in System 1, with drivers like Theo Pourchaire and Felipe Drugovich acknowledging the immense problem merely to safe a race seat. But, Gabriel Bortoleto’s transfer to Sauber has garnered much less consideration, significantly outdoors of Brazil. Bortoleto’s latest remarks upon arriving on the Sauber manufacturing unit have raised eyebrows, with many speculating that he is perhaps destined for a future at Ferrari.
Followers have been fast to attach Gabriel Bortoleto’s obvious affinity for Ferrari to his latest feedback. When requested about his favourite F1 circuit, he named Imola and confessed that Piratelli was his favourite nook. Then, when requested about his favourite shade, his response was fast: ‘Purple.’ This mixture led followers to recommend that Bortoleto is perhaps positioning himself as a future Ferrari driver.
One fan remarked, “Purple, Imola, Italian surname… Ferrari is your future!” One other stated, “Ferrari!” with pleasure. Different followers echoed comparable ideas, with one suggesting, “Gabi digging for a spot at Ferrari,” whereas one other added, “Gabi already pitching to Ferrari!” One Gabriel Bortoleto supporter even famous, “The homie likes crimson like Ferrari?” and one other claimed, “However in between the traces, he stated Ferrari is the objective.”
Gabriel Bortoleto’s rise to System 1 has been spectacular, but it surely’s flown underneath the radar for a lot of. Profitable back-to-back titles in each System 3 and System 2 is a rare achievement and sometimes alerts a powerful future in F1.
Drivers corresponding to George Russell, Charles Leclerc, and Oscar Piastri, who adopted comparable paths, have all gone on to realize success, with Leclerc beginning at Sauber earlier than becoming a member of Ferrari, and Russell spending three years at Williams earlier than shifting to Mercedes.
Gabriel Bortoleto might face challenges much like these of Leclerc and Russell, as Sauber is anticipated to as soon as once more end on the backside of the Constructors’ Championship. Nonetheless, Bortoleto’s focus can be on getting as shut as doable to his skilled teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, and utilizing the consistency that received him the F2 title final 12 months to show his capacity in System 1.
Fernando Alonso, a seasoned determine within the sport, has expressed his perception that Gabriel Bortoleto has the potential to succeed. Nonetheless, Gabriel Bortoleto’s success might depend upon Audi’s impending takeover of Sauber, which might present the staff with the required assets to turn into extra aggressive.
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