Gabriel Bortoleto has put his Audi F1 future beyond doubt, revealing that he has a long-term contract with the Swiss-German outfit and expects to remain with the team for several more seasons. As Audi continues building its new Formula 1 project, the Brazilian rookie believes he can grow alongside the team and help turn its long-term ambitions into reality.
Key Points:
- Strong 2026 Contribution: The Brazilian has scored 10 of Audi’s 12 points this season and currently sits 14th in the championship.
- Belgian GP Highlight: Bortoleto qualified ninth and finished eighth at Spa, scoring four points after benefiting from Lando Norris’ grid penalty.
- Audi’s Long-Term Project: Bortoleto remains fully committed to Audi’s ambition, with Mattia Binotto targeting a major step forward toward 2030.
- Major Rookie Growth: The Brazilian says he is a “totally different” driver after gaining significant F1 experience over the past 18 months.
Bortoleto Confirms He Is Staying With Audi
Bortoleto joined the team in 2025, when it was still operating as Sauber, and scored 19 points during his rookie season. In 2026, he has already contributed the majority of Audi’s points, with 10 of the team’s 12 points to his name. He currently sits 14th in the drivers’ championship, eight points behind Haas’ Oliver Bearman.
His strongest weekend of the season so far came at the Belgian Grand Prix. Bortoleto surprised by qualifying ninth at a circuit where Audi had expected to struggle because of its power deficit compared with the other leading manufacturers.
After starting eighth due to Lando Norris’ grid penalty, the Brazilian held his position and successfully resisted a late charge from Arvid Lindblad to secure four valuable championship points. With Audi still navigating its first season as a full F1 manufacturer, Bortoleto remains convinced that the project has the potential to deliver in the long run.
Bortoleto Believes in Audi’s Long-Term F1 Project
Speaking to Motorsport.com’s Brazilian edition, Bortoleto confirmed that his relationship with Audi extends well beyond the current season. “I have a long-term contract with Audi. I've already said it: I'll be with Audi next year, and not only next year, but for the following years as well,” Bortoleto said.
Bortoleto also pointed to Mattia Binotto’s 2030 target, highlighting just how much Audi is thinking beyond its first few seasons in F1. The Brazilian emphasized that Audi’s ambitions have always been built around a long-term plan rather than immediate success. He believes the team is currently laying the foundations for something much bigger.
For Bortoleto, the excitement comes from knowing that Audi’s progress will happen in stages. “This year was the first step, building a new car and a new engine. Next year will be another step, and then we'll be able to start putting things into practice.”
Bortoleto Enjoys Working With Nico Hulkenberg
While Bortoleto was clear about his own position, he admitted that he was not entirely certain whether teammate Nico Hulkenberg has a contract for next season. However, the Brazilian was eager to stress how much he values working alongside the experienced German.
The pair have developed a strong working relationship, with Bortoleto showing over the past 18 months that he can match his veteran teammate for pace. “I can say that my seat is secured. I'm not going to talk about other people's contracts, but I really enjoy working with Nico,” he added.
Bortoleto praised Hulkenberg’s speed, experience and contribution to Audi’s development, while making it clear that he is comfortable with whatever the future brings. For now, Bortoleto’s focus remains firmly on his own development and his belief in what he can achieve with Audi.
Gabriel Bortoleto Is “Totally Different” After Rookie Season
The Brazilian entered F1 after winning the 2024 Formula 2 title at the first attempt, quickly becoming a highly sought-after young talent. Sauber/Audi ultimately secured his services after agreeing to release him from his McLaren driver development deal.
However, his experience in an F1 car was extremely limited before his debut. Having spent only a year in McLaren’s development programme, his Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) run in Austria in 2024 was his only meaningful F1 running before he drove the Sauber at the Abu Dhabi post-season test.
Bortoleto admitted that he arrived in F1 feeling “very raw” and had to learn at an incredibly fast pace throughout his rookie campaign. The Brazilian had little time to prepare before being thrown into the demands of a full F1 season. “I basically had to go straight into an F1 season, do pre-season testing in Bahrain, and that was it.”
That steep learning curve has accelerated his development, and Bortoleto believes the experience has made him a significantly more complete driver. He remains grateful for the support he has received from Audi and believes the partnership is already producing results.
What’s Next for Bortoleto and Audi?
Bortoleto’s long-term commitment gives Audi an important piece of stability as the manufacturer continues developing its F1 operation. The Brazilian has already become a key contributor to the team’s 2026 campaign, while his own rapid development provides another reason for optimism.
With a new car and engine representing the first step and further progress expected in the years ahead, Bortoleto is clearly prepared to play the long game. For now, the message from the young Brazilian is simple: he believes in Audi, Audi believes in him, and their F1 journey is only getting started.
