While Audi’s management reportedly flirts with the idea of landing Carlos Sainz or Oscar Piastri, somebody forgot to tell Gabriel Bortoleto. The 21-year-old Brazilian has made his position abundantly clear: he is not going anywhere, and he has the paperwork to prove it.
No Clauses, No Exit, No Drama
Speaking ahead of the Dutch GP, Bortoleto was refreshingly direct about his contractual situation at Audi, which is more than most drivers ever manage.
“For as much as I can say, as it is confidential, let’s just say there are no clauses. I have a long-term contract with Audi. I have already said it: I will be here next year, and not just next year, but also in the years that follow.” – Gabriel Bortoleto
That is about as unambiguous as it gets in a sport built on carefully worded non-answers. Whether Audi’s hierarchy is equally enthusiastic is a separate question entirely, given the rumoured interest in established names. For now, Bortoleto is the man in the seat, and he clearly intends to stay there.
The 2030 Vision, Whether You Believe It or Not
Bortoleto has fully bought into Audi’s grand plan, which team principal Mattia Binotto has anchored around the year 2030 as the target for genuine competitiveness.
“It is a project we truly believe in. I believed in it when I joined them, they believe in my potential, and that is what I can say. It is something long-term.” – Gabriel Bortoleto
2026 was the foundation year, building a new car and a new power unit from scratch. 2027, Bortoleto insists, is when Audi starts translating plans into proper results on track. It is an optimistic timeline, but then, what is the alternative?
McNish Is Already a Fan
Audi racing director Allan McNish has been vocal in his praise, pointing not just to raw pace but to mental composure as Bortoleto’s defining quality. He cited a Formula 2 incident in Qatar where Bortoleto collected a five-second penalty after being forced out of a closing pit lane, recovered his focus immediately, crossed the line first, and still ended up third on the road after the penalty was applied.
“That mental composure, combined with natural pace and an analytical approach, gives him enormous potential,” McNish said. Bortoleto currently leads his Nico Hulkenberg on the intra-team points tally by 10 to 2 this season, which is a statement in itself given Hulkenberg’s experience.
Diplomatic on Hulkenberg, Firm on Himself
“I can say my place is secure. I am not going to talk about other people’s contracts, but I genuinely enjoy working with Nico. He is fast, experienced, and brings a lot of positive things to the team.” – Gabriel Bortoleto
Gracious enough, though notably he declined to say anything about Hulkenberg’s future beyond 2026. Audi may well be eyeing Sainz, and the rumours are not going away quietly.
Bortoleto is doing everything right. The real question is whether Audi will honour the spirit of a commitment that, on paper at least, looks very solid indeed.
