McLaren recently brought in a new driver to their driver development program, and they have turned their heads towards Gabriel Bortoleto. The Brazilian driver was the new addition to their family after causing a roll in the Formula 1 feeder series F3. He races for Trident Racing and he just won the championship in 2023.
Gabriel is a Brazilian racing driver who entered stardom after winning the Mugello and Monza rounds in the 2020 Italian F4 feeder series. He was born in Sao Paolo, Brazil, on October 14, 2004, and he started karting in 2012 in the Campeonato Sulbrasileiro de Kart.
Gabriel Bortoleto signs with McLaren
McLaren is working meticulously on their driver development program and is adding talented young drivers like Ryo Hirakawa to their rosters to help them with their future endeavors. One such name is current F3 winner Gabriel Bortoleto.
He was welcomed by McLaren’s Emmanuele Pirro, McLaren Driver Development Programme Director, into the team as his mentor.
“I’m pleased to welcome Gabriel to the McLaren Driver Development programme. I’ve known him well since the beginning of his motorsport career and he’s got all that is needed on and off track to be a star. He also fits very well with our team culture at McLaren. I look forward to working with Gabriel and helping him develop in his motorsport career.”
“They join our talented line-up of drivers who we will be working with on their individual development, to give them the tools they need to progress in their careers.”
It is quite visible that McLaren has high hopes for their new signing.
Bortoleto’s F3 exploits
Gabriel Bortoleto was announced as a driver for the Trident Formula 3 team, becoming the first driver to be announced with a team that season. Immediately after a penalty in his first race, Gabriel won two races consecutively, managing to take an early lead in the F3 championship.
He racked up point finishes in the subsequent rounds and got a runner-up finish in the Red Bull Ring feature race. Furthermore, Gabriel Bortoleto was the runner-up in two sprint races, i.e., in the Britain and Hungary sprint races.
Bortoleto had his first non-scoring race at the Spa-Francorchamps, after which he entered the final race with a 38-point lead. His closest rivals missing out on pole position on Monza qualifying meant that he was safely the winner of the 2023 FIA F3 championship.
Interestingly, Bortoleto is also a part of A14, Fernando Alonso’s driver management company.
Do you think this new face in the Formula world will be able to join the higher series?
