Written by Jasmin Low
Bortoleto is a rising star tackling the world of Formula 2 in 2024 | Image Credit: Formula 2
The 2024 Formula 2 season has been nothing short of spectacular, with fourteen different drivers lifting the winner’s trophy over ten rounds. As the brand new car introduced for the 2024 season has leveled the playing field, unexpected championship frontrunners have emerged whilst title favourites and their teams are struggling to adapt to the new car. Gabriel Bortoleto is the top rookie as it stands after the series' trip to Spa-Francorchamps, sitting just 36 points behind the formidable Isack Hadjar who leads the championship.
Bortoleto has taken the world of Formula 2 by storm throughout the 2024 season, fighting his way up to second in the standings with only four rounds left to decide the championship. After winning the 2023 Formula 3 season and signing onto the McLaren Driver Development program soon after, the Brazilian’s career has only been improving as his immense potential is being consistently showcased at the premier feeder series level.
Bortoleto turned back the clock to the beginning of the season and reflected on his expectations for his rookie year:
‘I created expectations after seeing what results were possible with the car I have and my performance on track. After our first quali of the year in Bahrain, my expectation was to fight for the title. We were straight away there, fighting for the win and I said: ‘If this is happening in the first round, imagine when I get used to the car more and more, and adapt more and more to this series, and things start to come automatically to me. You know, stop thinking about pit stops, or how I need to brake. When things become automatic in my head, I will be much better than what I am now.’ It actually did in my opinion so my expectations are the same since the first round.’
The young Brazilian's performance has only improved as he adapts to the car | Image Credit: Formula 2
Following his previous success, the stakes are high for the 19 year-old, who continues to prove his potential for greatness each weekend, bringing home consistent points finishes which have kept him in title contention. Bortoleto’s improving mindset has only set him up for better results as the championship battle heats up toward the tail end of the season:
‘I’m much more relaxed now in the sense that in the beginning of the season I created expectations after my season last year. I made this quite an obligation for me, to perform at least- not to win because it depends on a lot of things, not only being good or bad. A championship is too long to be decided only on your speed. But I’m just more relaxed now, I’m enjoying racing much more, going into the weekends I’m much more into going to quali and enjoying the lap I do, instead of thinking about if I’m going to finish the lap in a good way and if I’m going to be at the front. I’m just happy, and expectations are much easier when you have this approach.’
With four rounds left of the 2024 Formula 2 season, Bortoleto will need to keep up his consistent form and close the gap to Hadjar at the front of the championship. Should Bortoleto take the crown, he will join the likes of George Russell, Charles Leclerc, and Oscar Piastri as back-to-back winners of Formula 3 and Formula 2, and hopefully prove himself worth of a seat in Formula 1.
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