‘It was a weight off my shoulders’
By the time the F2 paddock reconvened in Lusail, Bortoleto’s future was set as he’d inked his F1 deal to join the grid in 2025.
He recalls the moment and feelings he had, joined by those closest to him who have supported and been a part of his journey from the start. It made the momentous signing day even more special, as he explains.
“I was with my girlfriend and had my parents on FaceTime, one of my sponsors was on the phone call as well – that was a very special moment for us.
“They were there and got to be part of me signing my F1 contract. When you have a lot of people behind you, supporting you, reassuring you that you can do it, wishing you good luck, it can mean the pressure is a little higher.
“But that was never something that got me out of focus, it was a positive for me. Having those good people around me, supporting me since I was young – when I won, it was a weight off my shoulders.
“I proved to myself that by winning F3 and F2, I deserve to be here. I didn’t get the deal because of anything else, I did this because I won both Championships, like Piastri, Russell and Leclerc.”
