The Sauber-run F1 operation, which is currently running under the Stake moniker, is no stranger to rookie drivers.
Some, such as Charles Leclerc and Kimi Raikkonen, have gone on to bigger and better things with success at Ferrari.
Others have exited the grid with little success to their names and resigned to a career away from F1.
Is Bortoleto entering the same conditions that will leave him cast aside and forgotten about in a handful of years?
The delicate progression of circumstances that need to occur for a driver to land a full-time seat in F1 can be a very frustrating period for some.
It’s often a case of being in the right place at the right time – and there’s no doubt that Bortoleto’s time is now.
The Brazilian took the Formula 2 title this year, just one year on from securing the Formula 3 title.
His back-to-back success places him in an exclusive group containing some of the sport’s biggest current names – including Leclerc, George Russell and Oscar Piastri.
Entering F1, however, is a different beast entirely and there have been instances in the past of a driver having major success in junior categories before faltering in F1.
Bortoleto has joined a Stake squad that was cemented at the foot of the F1 pecking order throughout the 2024 campaign. It scored points just once across 24 races, courtesy of Zhou Guanyu who found himself exiting the team at the end of the year.
The 20-year-old has entered into a project that goes beyond what Sauber has to offer as Audi will take over the team in 2026.
But Mattia Binotto, the chief operating and chief technical officer of the team, has admitted it will take many years to become competitive.
“It’s not only climbing a big mountain, it’s climbing Everest,” he said earlier this year. “It will take several years. Our objective is by the end of the decade to be able to fight for the championships.”
Being subjected to the back of the grid could be detrimental for Bortoleto’s career.
© XPBimages
The issue for the Brazilian is not so much related to his talent, but his inability to showcase what he can do.
Sauber has long been present towards the rear of the grid. Since 2009, its highest result has been sixth in the standings.
However, it has scored just 20 championship points over the last two years, finishing 9th and 10th in the constructors’ table respectively.
The last two rookies that have competed for the team – Antonio Giovinazzi and Zhou – spent three years each languishing down the pecking order before finding themselves being cast to the sidelines.
Sauber’s experience with unsuccessful rookies stretches back even further, with Esteban Gutierrez and Felipe Nasr being two other examples from the 2010s.
Bortoleto will have to deal with a challenge that many rookie drivers are subject to. Having spent their young careers winning races and championships, there will be little he can do in the short term to find success in F1.
It can be a blow to one’s confidence and how Bortoleto will deal with his new-found position will be crucial to how his future plays out.
Racing alongside a 37-year-old in Nico Hulkenberg, Bortoleto will be in a strong position in a handful of seasons to lead the team should it become competitive.
It will be difficult for Bortoleto to rouse anyone but his own team if the car is away from point-scoring potential. The TV cameras will not be on him as the story of a grand prix weekend is shaped and the biggest headlines generated will spell from hefty crashes and consistent mistakes.
Earning the trust of the Audi team will be his route to long-term success. Few could do it in the past at the Hinwil-based squad – but Bortoleto will look to buck the trend.
