McNish Reveals Qualities That Give Bortoleto 'a Lot of Potential'

Allan McNish, racing director of Audi F1 Team, has explained what makes Gabriel Bortoleto a driver with 'a lot of potential' in Formula 1. It is not just raw speed, but his analytical mind and mental composure that stand out.

Bortoleto, who won back-to-back F3 and F2 titles, made his F1 debut with the Hinwil-based squad (then Sauber) last year. After being outscored by veteran teammate Nico Hulkenberg 51-19 in 2025, he has turned the tables in 2026, leading 10-2 at the summer break.

One of his finest moments came at Spa-Francorchamps, a track where Audi's new power unit was expected to struggle. Bortoleto clinched a remarkable eighth-place finish after qualifying ninth, proving his performance exceeded expectations.

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McNish praised Bortoleto's ability to build speed analytically, which is evident in his growth this season. He also recalled a moment in F2 Qatar when Bortoleto, while leading, was penalized for crossing the white line at pit entry. Instead of panicking, he kept his cool and crossed the line first, before the penalty dropped him to third.

“When you've got a mental composure—like he has the natural speed, but also an analytical way of delivering that speed—it gives you a lot of potential,” McNish told Motorsport.com. “And now he's starting to grow with the experience as well to deliver on it.”

Off the track, McNish also admires Bortoleto's positive and cheerful personality. “He's nice to be around, and with Nico, we've got a very good balance between the two of them because one's got the experience and the other's got youthful enthusiasm, and they really feed off each other very well,” he added.

Regarding work ethic, Bortoleto is said to be extremely hardworking. “He is a very hard worker. If there's a sim session on 2 January, he would be in the sim working with his engineer, Jose. We need drivers pushing us, and Gabi is definitely in that vein,” McNish concluded.