Now in his second year, he’s part of a new Audi team set to make its debut in 2026. Just last year, Bortoleto raced with Nico Hülkenberg at Sauber, during that team’s last grid appearance. Midway through that season, he had a good streak, finishing in points in four out of six races spanning from Austria to Monza.
This year kicked off nicely for him with a points finish at the Australian Grand Prix, but since then, he’s only managed to crack the top ten twice, landing in P8 at both the British and Belgian Grands Prix.
Despite the results not being what he hoped for, Bortoleto finds a certain “beauty” in his current journey as a driver.
“I obviously want to win races, but at the same time, there’s something beautiful about what I’m doing right now – building something from the ground up,” he shared with the media, including SB Nation, ahead of the United States Grand Prix.
He expressed happiness for his fellow competitor Kimi Antonelli, who is on the verge of winning the Formula 2 world title. “It’s a big achievement to be a world champion. But everyone has their own path,” he said. “I’m focused on mine, which involves working with a brand that has a successful history in motorsport.”
Bortoleto dreams of telling the story of how they began as the lowest-ranked team in 2024 and eventually turned it around to win races.
“That’s a narrative I’d love to share someday, but there’s a ton of work ahead. Winning and getting on the podium is my priority, and we’re striving for that.”
Regarding Audi’s prospects at the upcoming United States Grand Prix, Bortoleto is cautious about making predictions, acknowledging he’s been off base in the past. Still, he believes the Circuit of the Americas could be a favorable track for his team.
“I’ve given up trying to guess when we’ll perform well because it seems every prediction turns out wrong. But it should be an interesting track with its mix of corners at various speeds; it might give us a good opportunity,” he mentioned.
“Every time we hit a new track, there are big lessons to learn and insights to gain, especially with these new car regulations. This isn’t just for us—everyone faces this challenge,” he added.
“Hopefully, we’ll have a solid performance, and I believe we can achieve that.”
The preparations begin on Friday for Bortoleto.
Yet, his journey will stretch far beyond the first day of the 2026 United States Grand Prix.
