P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Who is Gabriel Bortoleto as the Brazilian signs a contract to sign with the Stake F1 Team to partner Nico Hulkenberg?
Gabriel Bortoleto will be the 33rd F1 driver from Brazil and is set to debut for the Stake team in Australia next year, partnering with Nico Hulkenberg as they prepare for Audi’s 2026 arrival. This will mark the return of a full-time Brazilian driver to the grid since Felipe Massa in 2017. Born in Sao Paulo in 2004, Bortoleto’s racing journey began in karting before he moved on to car racing in Europe, impressing with wins and podiums. He was mentored by Fernando Alonso and clinched the FIA F3 championship, earning a promotion to F2 where he is currently contending for the title. Signed by McLaren’s Driver Development programme, Bortoleto caught the eye of Stake boss Mattia Binotto, securing his spot in the F1 grid for the upcoming season.
