Gabriel Boltreto is used to victory and fighting at a sharp end.
The 20-year-old Brazilian won the Formula 3 title in his first attempt in 2023, and then became Formula 2 champion a year later.
In doing so, Boltreto achieved a feat that was managed only by three other drivers. Currently F1 Championship leaders, Oscar Piastri, Mercedes’ George Russell, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclair.
Although Boltreto paid off with the 2025 Formula One promotion, his rookie season was a considerable adjustment process, making his grand prix debut with Sauber, a team that ended 2024.
Sauber generally had the slowest package in the 2025 F1 field, but a major upgrade at the Spanish Grand Prix helped Nico Halkenberg land the best results of the team’s season, with only the second point finishing.
Boltreto has yet to score his first points in Formula 1 and has registered for the 12th best finish for Barcelona, but he has done a very respectable job with his extremely experienced teammates, especially in qualifying, at the first opening nine grands prix.
Speaking only crash.net ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Voltoreto reluctantly gave him “8.5/9” out of 10 when asked to rank how his first F1 season was moving forward.
“I’m very pleased with what I’m doing this year. Obviously, that’s not where we want to be,” Boltreto said.
“There’s still a lot to play with. I believe I’m worthy of fighting for the points at least, but as a team, I don’t have much. But I’m very pleased with what I’m doing.
“I think I’m working very well in the qualifying sessions. You need to understand a little about the whole race, you need to understand a little about the situation in the race conditions throughout the race.
“But I have experience with this and I’m going to get there. But it’s been very good so far. I have a pretty decent pace so it makes me happy.
“I haven’t struggled so far. Hopefully, we can continue like this. When there’s a competitive car, we’ll fight for something bigger.”
Boltreto scored his best results in Formula 1 at the Spanish Grand Prix
Asked how he found his biggest challenge to step up from F2 to F1, Voltoreto replied:
“There’s so many things. There’s a lot to do with. I’ll save energy until the weekend. I’ve been pretty busy this weekend.
“There’s a lot of media stuff to attend. Many sponsors are present to join the team. There’s a lot of data info that you can find in F2 or above, so you need to study more in that sense.
“There are a lot of different things in Formula 1, but I’m used to it.”
Adapt to major changes in thinking
For Boltreto, the challenge of helping Sauber push the Formula pecking order ahead of next year’s transition to Audi required a great mindset.
Over the past two seasons, Fernando Alonso’s pupil, Boltreto, rarely finishes outside the top 10, and he ended the 2024 campaign for the Championship Crown with two wins and eight podium finishes.
In Formula 1, Boltreto had to get used to the feeling that he couldn’t compete for victory or front running positions.
“When you fight you for victory, I think you get used to the sense of victory, and it’s addictive,” explained Boltreto. “It’s great to win, so you feel you never want to lose, you know you’re doing a great job.
“When you’re not winning, it feels like you’re always missing something. We’re far from winning now, so we have to make a lot of steps to get there.
“But what I’m confident about this journey is all the projects I can achieve as an Audi and team, along with Nico (Hulkenberg) next year.
“So I’m really excited about it and look forward to winning again one day.
Bortoleto talks about Lewis Larkam on Crash.Net
Voltoreto won Racing Bulls’ Isaac Hajar for the F2 title last year, finishing ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antoneri, but now he finds he can’t compete either.
Is he annoyed as he is definitely the toughest job out of the newcomer conditions in F1 2025?
“I’m not saying I’m frustrated because I’m happy to have the opportunity to participate in Formula 1,” he answered the question.
“There are so many drivers who want to be in my position right now, and it doesn’t matter which position you finish in the race, so it doesn’t make me frustrated.
“But it’s hard to see everyone you’ve raced for the rest of your life, someone I raced last year and last year and I beat them.
“When I see them doing well, I’m happy with them because I behave these people and prove they’re doing well in Formula 1. They’re great drivers and I have great admiration for these people.
“It’s just having patience. This is the biggest learning I’ve experienced this year and I’m patience and waiting as my time comes.”
Boltreto can seize your heart from Leclerc and Russell. Both started backwards in Formula 1, but are now considered two of the best drivers on the grid.
“We definitely had a tough year and I think it’s necessary to be a better driver and person,” Boltreto said.
“If possible, I’m already fighting for the podium, the victory, at least for the points all the time, and that wasn’t the case yet.
“George Russell had a very tough year, and I don’t think he’s got a single point.
“The key is to one day be leveled and then be pleased with where I am.”
