Gabriel Bortoleto acknowledges the inevitable comparisons to Ayrton Senna but remains determined to carve out his own distinctive path in Formula 1. The 2024 FIA Formula 2 champion, who represents Brazil’s first full-time driver on the F1 grid since Felipe Massa departed in 2017, spoke candidly about the pressures and expectations that come with following in the footsteps of his country’s greatest motorsport legend.
In an exclusive interview with RacingNews365, the Sao Paulo native expressed both gratitude and caution regarding the Senna parallels. “Senna is the greatest of all-time, so to have my name in the same sentence as him is already a big thing,” Bortoleto stated. “I am Brazilian, he is my idol, I read about him, watched videos about him, and I’m extremely grateful for that, but sometimes it is difficult to be compared to someone that won so much when you are at the beginning of your career.”
The young driver, who never witnessed Senna race due to being born a decade after the three-time champion’s tragic death at Imola in 1994, recognizes both the advantages and drawbacks of such lofty expectations. He noted that while Brazil’s passionate fanbase provides tremendous support, the scrutiny can be harsh when results don’t meet expectations. “There are a lot of positives and negatives about it, and when you don’t win, people can be very harsh, but there are a lot of supportive people in Brazil,” he explained.
Bortoleto’s primary focus remains on establishing his own identity within the sport while honoring his nation’s racing heritage. Currently competing in his second F1 season with Audi, he emphasized his commitment to daily improvement and creating lasting memories for Brazilian motorsport fans. “What I can tell you is that I’m going to work every single day to be the best driver I can and create my own history, and to make my country proud of me,” he declared, expressing hope that future generations of Brazilian children will experience the same joy watching him race that he felt watching other drivers during his youth.