Why the “Senna phenomenon” can no longer exist today: Formula 1 driver Gabriel Bortoleto explains the new reality in Brazilian motorsport
The hopes of a great motorsport nation rest on his shoulders: With Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, and the unforgettable Ayrton Senna, Brazil has won eight Formula 1 world titles and 101 Grand Prix victories for the South American country. And since 2025, Brazil finally has a driver in the premier class again in Gabriel Bortoleto.
Felipe Massa last represented his country in Formula 1 as a regular driver for Williams until the end of 2017, while Pietro Fittipaldi made two appearances as a substitute driver for Romain Grosjean at Haas in 2020 following the latter’s fiery accident.
Bortoleto, his country’s 33rd Grand Prix starter, now comes with a strong track record as the reigning Formula 2 champion. “Of course, we are a country that has won a lot in motorsport in the past,” says the Sauber driver, who is well aware of his compatriots’ aspirations.
The return of a racing nation
However, with regard to the younger audience, he adds: “Many fans have never seen Brazilian drivers win in Formula 1 because they are new fans – soccer fans who saw Brazil win 20 years ago – and they miss that feeling of being at the top of a sport again.”
However, “Brazil wasn’t successful in the World Cup either, and although we’ve performed well in motorsport in recent years, we haven’t won any titles,” says Bortoleto, making it clear that, despite his success last year, only Formula 1 counts in the end: “Brazilian fans are very emotional people – that’s Brazil. That’s what I love about my country,“ he says of the high expectations.
”I think those who understand the sport and know how big the differences are between the cars – that you can develop a car here and not everyone drives the same chassis as in the junior series, where you only change the setup – those fans understand my situation,” says Bortoleto: “They just expect me to improve from race to race and learn as I go.”
Senna comparisons and modern reality
“But maybe there are also people who don’t know much about Formula 1 and remember Senna in the 1980s – and think you can just grab any car and win in Monaco in the rain. But that’s not how it is today. It’s not that easy anymore.”
The Brazilian is referring to Senna’s legendary rain drive in Monte Carlo in 1984, when only a premature end to the race prevented the rookie from winning in his inferior Toleman. However, Bortoleto’s teammate Nico Hülkenberg recently proved at a similarly wet Silverstone that such moments of glory are not entirely out of the question for the underdogs in modern Formula 1…
“It’s not impossible,” admits Bortoleto, “but it’s more difficult.” The string of retirements that used to be the order of the day in Formula 1 and sometimes led to surprise results have become rare, which is why Bortoleto does not want to dream of an unlikely podium finish, but would rather work his way up step by step: “I give my best on the track—and that’s what counts for me.”
