Formula 3 title "a dream come true" for Gabriel Bortoleto
In the crowded pack of the FIA Formula 3 championship it is consistency that counts, again proven by new champion Gabriel Bortoleto who took just two victories on his road to the title.
Gabriel Bortoleto celebrates his title in Monza. (Joe Portlock / Formula Motorsport Limited / Getty Images)
For Bortoleto, the feeling is still sinking in after winning the 2023 title in pit lane after teammate Oliver Goethe denied his rivals the two points they needed as part of a maximum haul for the weekend.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” says the 18-year-old Brazilian.
“For sure, I haven’t realised how big this is yet, I think I won’t realise it for something like a week. It’s already a dream coming true for me, especially in a rookie season, it’s very, very special.”
It is worth remembering that it is Bortoleto’s rookie season, fresh from two years in the Formula Regional European Championship (FRECA) in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finishing sixth in the 2022 season, he thanks Trident Racing for their support in taking him on in the FIA Formula 3 championship.
“I had some good results, but never a champion in FRECA or wherever, so also for Trident to trust me, giving me the seat this season and pushing to make me, let's say, a champion. It was very impressive and something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
“After our test in Jerez, I led the first test I did in Formula 3. So after that and also Bahrain, I knew that we could have been competitive, but I will be honest, I never thought in my mind that we would have won the championship in Monza, arriving at the last round 38 points ahead of P2.”
“So, I would say I didn't think that, I was sure that we could have been competitive and finish in the top five, top three.”
“In a rookie season, that's very good because at the end of the day, (Oscar) Piastri and (Robert) Shwartzman were the only ones to win in their rookie season in Formula 3. It's amazing and a lot of adrenaline, I'm still recovering from all the feelings.”
Gabriel Bortoleto celebrates with Trident Racing teammates in Monza. (Joe Portlock / Formula Motorsport Limited / Getty Images)
It’s true that the championship is something Bortoleto himself could have hardly imagined in the first half of the season. His two victories came in the first two feature races, but he languished at the back end of the top ten in the races that followed as rivals like Spaniard Pepe Martí found their form.
Regardless, the Brazilian returned to the podium with second in the feature race at the Red Bull Ring, before another second-place finish in the sprint race at Silverstone. After leaving the British Grand Prix 30 points clear of his rivals, the championship was becoming clearer in his mind.
At Spa, he could have sealed the title, but emerged without a championship point after retiring from the sprint race and finishing just out of the points in the feature.
“It was very frustrating,” says Bortoleto, “especially because Trident had won there in the last four years.”
“I got hit in the first race and in the second race, we chose I would say the wrong tyres. Still, I managed to recover a lot and almost arrived in the lead of the guys who were on the slick tyres, but it was not enough on the last lap to overtake (Franco) Colapinto and secure the title there.”
Bortoleto sealed the title in pit lane during qualifying at the Italian Grand Prix. (Formula Motorsport Limited)
One thing that Bortoleto credits on his path to the title is the support of F1 champion Fernando Alonso. The Brazilian signed to Alonso’s A14 Management ahead of his season in Formula 3, something he says has been invaluable in his personal development.
“He's not just my manager but also an idol for me because since I was very young, Fernando has been the guy who was winning races in my dream category which is Formula 1.”
“Now having him as my manager and giving me some tips, especially before Bahrain and Melbourne, even Monaco, it was something very special to me.”
“He has been a big part of what I've done this season because there were moments when I, leading the championship after Melbourne and I'd won my second feature race in a row, I remember he sent me a voice message of almost ten minutes on WhatsApp.”
Despite winning the title in qualifying, Bortoleto isn’t resting on his laurels, saying that he hopes his drive to win can take team Trident Racing to the team’s championship on Sunday.
Watch every race of the FIA Formula 3 season on Kayo Sports.
