Bortoleto’s perfect Marko rebuttal is a great first F1 impression

A firm response from Gabriel Bortoleto to Red Bull’s Helmut Marko appraisal of him means the Formula 1 rookie has already made a strong first impression at the Australian Grand Prix.

As Sauber finished last in 2024 and is widely tipped to start this year with the weakest car, Bortoleto may not have competitive enough machinery to make big waves in his rookie season.

Off-track, though, the Formula 2 champion has come across very well through pre-season, and that continued on Thursday in Melbourne, the first media day of the 2025 season.

Bortoleto was asked about a comment Marko recently made on Servus TV while assessing the crop of this year’s rookie drivers.

Marko split the rookies into three groups and rated Bortoleto a “B driver”, calling him “very intelligent” while doubting his “absolute final speed” – implying there was a question over his titles in F2 and Formula 3 because he did not win that many races.

Asked about this in Melbourne, a smiling Bortoleto said: “I don’t care. I mean, I’ve seen that, and I love challenges.

“Hearing that from Helmut, he’s a guy who has put a lot of talent in Formula 1 and has put a lot of wrong talents in F1. So, you can see he got it right and wrong, and hopefully I will prove him wrong with the time.

“But nothing I say now in the media will change his mind, just my results on track. I’m sure I’ll prove him wrong at some point and hopefully he will admit this when I prove him wrong.

“For now, I’m just focussing on doing my job and improving and doing the best I can.

“I’m proud of what I did in junior series and I won in F2 and F3 against the Red Bull drivers he has, so good for me.”

New drivers have different ways of handling the exposure to scrutiny that F1 brings but Bortoleto’s confidence and charisma already suggests he has the attributes to cope very well.

This was the perfect response to both the question – as some drivers can be immediately standoffish as though the journalist is in the wrong for daring to ask it – and the comments that Marko made.

Bortoleto was firm, but respectful. He showed the personality, composure and intelligence that has been talked about so highly by those who have worked closely with him. And he may need to lean on that if Sauber does struggle for competitiveness.

A lack of testing means Bortoleto is on a steep learning curve, and arguably faces the toughest task of any rookie. There will be external scrutiny, and difficult moments, and always a risk of becoming a victim of internal politics if Audi grows frustrated with Sauber’s performance and looks to make the drivers a scapegoat.

Right now, you would back Bortoleto to cope with that well. And as a driver, he should start to make his mark as much as the car allows it. Team-mate Nico Hulkenberg said he’s been impressed already, calling him “a very bright, switched on guy”.

“Really hungry for information, pays a lot of attention, works really hard,” Hulkenberg said.

“I think he’s quick, it’s going to be interesting with him.”

And Fernando Alonso, whose management stable looks after Bortoleto, said on Thursday: “His dedication and his professionalism towards racing has been probably the most impressive thing.

“Since day one he was very committed to work hard for his dreams and already in Formula Regional Europe but then in Formula 3 and then Formula 2, each race was very well prepared and a very mature approach.

“He deserves to be in Formula 1 and hopefully a long career here and successful.

“He has been the best rookie of this next generation. We see so many rookies into F1 this year and he has been the best of them.

“Maybe he hasn't had the car at the moment to match their results the first year but hopefully people don't forget what he did in the last two.”