Audi Praises Bortoleto's Mental Composure: A Key Asset for 2026

As Audi takes over the Sauber squad for the 2026 season, many wondered whether they would retain the current driver line-up. The answer is clear: yes, and one of the main reasons is Gabriel Bortoleto. The Brazilian, who impressed in his debut year, is now seen as a valuable asset for the German manufacturer.

It took a few Grands Prix for Bortoleto to truly find his rhythm, but once he did, his performances immediately caught attention. Matching the experience and consistency of Nico Hulkenberg was no easy task, yet Bortoleto got closer as the season progressed. After 11 rounds, he has 10 points compared to his teammate's two—a feat that underlines his talent, especially after arriving straight from winning the Formula 2 title, following his Formula 3 crown the year before.

Audi's Racing Director, Allan McNish, did not hesitate to reveal what sets Bortoleto apart from other drivers. According to him, analytical ability and mental composure are key.

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"He's very analytical in the way he drives and builds up his speed," McNish told Motorsport.com. "That's visible in his growth throughout the year, also in qualifying sessions like at Spa. In Formula 2 in Qatar, while leading, he pitted and the pits closed due to a Safety Car. He had to dive back out, crossed the white line, got a five-second penalty. How he reset and continued showed great mental composure."

Furthermore, McNish emphasized that the combination of natural speed and analytical approach gives huge potential, and now Bortoleto is starting to reap the rewards of his growing experience. The balance between Hulkenberg's experience and Bortoleto's youthful enthusiasm is also seen as a perfect blend for the team.

"What I like about him beyond that is off-track he's a positive, smiley person. Nice to be around, nice to have him in the team. With him and Nico we have a very good balance; one has experience and instinct, the other has youthful enthusiasm. They feed off each other very well," McNish explained.

Bortoleto is also known as a hard worker. "He's definitely the one who, if there's a sim session on 2 January, would be in the sim working with Jose, his engineer," McNish added. With this mentality, it's no surprise Audi feels confident bringing Bortoleto into their new era in Formula 1.