Rubens Barrichello tells F1 hopeful Gabriel Bortoleto what he wants to see him do ‘as soon as possible’

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Twelve months ago, Gabriel Bortoleto was celebrating securing an impressive Formula 3 championship during his rookie season.

McLaren decided to act and sign Gabriel Bortoleto after witnessing his potential and now the 19-year-old Brazilian is in the conversation to potentially earn a seat on the Formula 1 grid in 2025.

Fernando Alonso played his role in helping Bortoleto earn his place in the McLaren set-up and now he could race against his protégé next year if things go his way.

The Brazilian teenager took the lead in the Formula 2 championship in Baku after overtaking Isack Hadjar in the standings.

With only two race weekends left in F2, Bortoleto could become the latest driver to achieve back-to-back championships, emulating the likes of Oscar Piastri and George Russell.

Speaking to Globo, former F1 star Rubens Barrichello was speaking about his country’s next great hope.

The last Brazilian driver to race in Formula 1 was Pietro Fittipaldi as a stand-in for Romain Grosjean following his crash in Bahrain.

Felipe Nasr was the last permanent Brazilian driver on the grid, but Barrichello has now suggested he wants Bortoleto to make that step up ‘as soon as possible’, although ironically, he doesn’t want to put too much pressure on the youngster.

As fellow South American Franco Colapinto has proved after his recent call-up to the Williams team, drivers from countries who haven’t had someone to cheer on for some time receive an incredible level of support.

Rubens Barrichello desperate to see Gabriel Bortoleto in Formula 1

Asked about the young McLaren driver, Barrichello said: “Of course, we want to see him driving in F1. Brazil is crazy.

“We’ve gone 15 years without [a Brazilian win in the category], so everything has to happen at the last minute.

READ MORE: Who is Gabriel Bortoleto? F2 and McLaren junior driver’s age, nationality, stats and more

“I just wanted to give Bortoleto the space to do his thing as if nobody was watching.

“This brings extra pressure that is unnecessary for the boy at this moment. It’s almost as if he has to reinvent himself to pretend that no one is watching.

“He does his thing, he stays there, and, God willing, he’ll be driving in F1 as soon as possible.”

Gabriel Bortoleto’s only F1 hope for 2025 is Sauber

With 18 of the 20 available seats on the F1 grid for next season although taken, Bortoleto is very short of options.

The F1 driver market burst into action much earlier than normal after Lewis Hamilton’s very early declaration that he would be joining Ferrari next year.

RB are set to decide between Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson, meaning Sauber are the only team who could still hire Bortoleto for next year.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber from team principal to Audi future

Bortoleto has held meetings with Audi’s head of F1, Mattia Binotto in recent races, although it’s unknown exactly what they were discussing.

Valtteri Bottas is the favourite to retain his drive, while Franco Colapinto’s fantastic performances for Williams may have put him in the frame.

If Bortoleto wins F2 this season, then it leaves him in an awkward position if he doesn’t have a seat in Formula 1.

Acting as reserve driver to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will help him learn a lot, but there’s no replacement for learning while on the job in motor racing and as Felipe Drugovich and Theo Pourchaire will attest to, F2 champions can be quickly forgotten in the F1 paddock.