News summary
- Gabriel Bortoleto considers Monza a “second home” after spending much of his junior career in Italy.
- Audi has scored points in the last four races, showing clear progress in its 2026 campaign.
- After a difficult race at Zandvoort, Bortoleto hopes to return to the top 10 at the Italian GP.
The Monza circuit in Italy is practically a second home for Gabriel Bortoleto, who found a refuge in the European country during his journey through the F1 junior categories. The weekend will therefore be one of the most special of the year, and the Brazilian hopes to take advantage of Audi’s improved pace in recent rounds to achieve another strong result.
At Zandvoort in the Netherlands, Bortoleto’s race was severely compromised at the start, as he lost several positions and then spun at the end of the opening lap. Even so, he remained in the race and showed good pace behind the wheel of the R26.
The points did not come, however. Gabriel finished 13th, but Nico Hülkenberg’s ninth-place finish represented Audi’s fourth consecutive race in the top 10, a clear sign of the team’s progress in 2026.
“Even though Sunday’s result in Zandvoort wasn’t what we expected, I felt good in the car and we had good pace,” Bortoleto said in Audi’s preview for the Italian GP. “Those were definitely positive points after returning from the break,” he added.
“Monza is always a weekend with special meaning for me: I lived in Italy throughout my junior career and also achieved good results here in recent years,” he added.
One of those results, in fact, helped Bortoleto secure his path to Formula 1: his victory in Race 2 of the 2024 Italian F2 round, after starting from the back of the grid. The Brazilian went on to win the championship that year.
“In general, racing at the Temple of Speed is something that always creates a lot of anticipation. We have been competitive in the last few races, so I hope we can maintain that performance this weekend and achieve a good result,” he concluded.
Formula 1 returns this weekend, from September 4 to 6, at Monza. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action from the Italian GP, the 13th round of the 2026 season.
FAQ
1. Why is Monza a special circuit for Gabriel Bortoleto?
Bortoleto considers Monza a second home because he lived in Italy throughout his junior career and achieved important results there, including his 2024 F2 victory.
2. How has Audi performed in recent F1 races?
Audi has scored points in the last four Grands Prix, with Nico Hülkenberg finishing ninth at Zandvoort and extending the team’s streak of consecutive top-10 finishes.
3. What result is Gabriel Bortoleto targeting at the Italian GP?
After finishing 13th in the Netherlands, Bortoleto hopes to return to the top 10 at Monza, taking advantage of Audi’s improved pace in recent races.
