Bortoleto upset - admits to ‘tough weekend’ after home heartbreak

Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto arrived at Interlagos dreaming of a fairytale first Formula 1 home race, cheered on by tens of thousands of fans and an emotional crowd draped in yellow and green.

But the 21-year-old’s weekend quickly spiraled into heartbreak – two crashes in two days left him devastated and calling it “one of the toughest weekends of my whole career.”

The trouble began on Saturday during the Sprint race, where Bortoleto’s ambition got the better of him. Barreling toward the iconic Senna S, he made a bold move to overtake Alexander Albon, only to lose control in a heart-stopping high-speed shunt.

“I had one of biggest accidents of my career, probably the biggest one,” he admitted.

The crash damage was so severe that it sidelined him from qualifying, setting a grim tone for the weekend. For a driver eager to shine on home soil, it was a brutal blow.

Sunday’s Early Exit

Hoping to redeem himself in Sunday’s Grand Prix, Bortoleto’s race ended almost as soon as it began. Halfway through the first lap, he clipped the rear of Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin, sending his Sauber spinning into retirement.

The incident erased a promising start where he’d already gained two positions.

“Until that moment I think I was up two positions already,” he said. “I was going for the third move and just had a contact with Lance.”

Initially, Bortoleto’s frustration spilled over the team radio, hinting at Stroll’s role in the collision. But post-race, he took a more measured stance, refusing to play the blame game.

“I don’t want to point fingers here or there, I just think it was a racing incident,” he explained. “In the first lap everything can happen. I think obviously I was on the outside, I didn’t get any space from him but it’s also difficult for him to judge that I’m there.

“So I just want to move on and go for the next race.”

A Heavy Heart at Home

The weight of the weekend was especially crushing for Bortoleto, who felt the eyes of his nation on him. With family and fans packing the Interlagos stands, the pressure to perform was immense.

“I’m just very upset because it’s my first home race, you always expect to do a good job, or at least race a little bit,” he said, his words tinged with regret.

“I think it’s been one of the toughest weekends of my whole career because I see that my fans are here, my family, and my team, for them it’s also very important.”

Despite the setbacks, the Brazilian faithful never wavered. Their unwavering support was a silver lining for the young driver.

“Even through all the difficult moments of this weekend, they have been there supporting, cheering, screaming my name and being there. So I cannot thank them enough,” he said, visibly moved.

“It’s just incredible to see my country so happy to have someone and I hope I make them proud soon because weekends like this for sure no one is happy, not myself.”

As Bortoleto looks to put this painful chapter behind him, his resolve remains unbroken. With the next race on the horizon, the young Brazilian is determined to turn the page and deliver the kind of performance his fans know he’s capable of.

For now, though, Interlagos will linger as a bitter lesson in the unforgiving world of Formula 1.

Read also: ‘Very lucky’ Bortoleto vows to learn from Sprint crash mistake

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