Bortoleto Sets the Pace in Qatar, Eyes a Strong Weekend
Bortoleto emerged as one of the leading contenders in the blistering heat of Qatar, securing a strong starting position in both the sprint and feature races. The young Brazilian was consistently among the fastest drivers throughout practice sessions, showcasing the raw speed and prowess that saw him earn a Formula 1 seat for the 2024 season.
Although he ultimately declined to set a final fast lap in qualifying, opting for a strategic approach based on fuel calculations unique to Formula 2, Bortoleto’s speed was undeniable. The rule requiring F2 engineers to manually calculate fuel loads played a role in his decision.
“I knew we were fast, maybe we couldn’t beat Hitech in the classification because they were very, very fast since the start of practice,” he explained, “So for me, if I was already there in the top 3, it would be realistic for us today, with the car I had and the ride I managed to get, I was pretty happy with it. But I saw [Paul] improving his lap on the last lap, and it gave me that feeling that maybe I could get close to him, which I honestly think could help us improve my lap. I don’t know if I’ll beat him, but I’ll get very close, just like we were on the second lap, and I think I was a few thousandths behind him.”
With the unique qualifying format of Formula 2, Bortoleto will begin the sprint race from ninth place, while in the crucial feature race – and the one that awards the most championship points – he will start second on the grid, giving him a strong advantage amidst a fiercely competitive field. Hadjar, meanwhile, opens from second in the sprint race, but will start ninth on Sunday.
“I think it’s going to be an interesting race,” Bortoleto reflected, “because of the high-speed curves, there will be more wear and tear. It’s a track that also allows you to play a lot with the layouts. So you can go further out, further in, towards to get out of the dirty air. I want to have fun, to be honest. I know that Hadjar will be starting ahead tomorrow, so it will be a matter of fitting in what I can, getting the points I can, and then on Sunday, we’re going with everything we can to get a lot of points in the championship.”
What was Gabriel Bortoleto’s reasoning for not setting a final fast lap in qualifying?
## Bortoleto Eyes Strong Weekend Despite Missing Pole
**[HOST]:** Welcome back to the show. Joining us today is Gabriel Bortoleto, who’s looking incredibly strong in Qatar this weekend. Gabriel, congratulations on securing great starting positions for both the Sprint and Feature Races. You were flying out there in practice! How are you feeling heading into the weekend?
**[BORTOLETO]:** Thanks! I’m feeling really good. The car felt fantastic throughout practice, and we were able to find a good rhythm. It’s always challenging in these hot conditions, but the team has done a great job preparing the car. I’m confident we can have a strong weekend.
**[HOST]:** You opted for a strategic approach in qualifying, choosing not to set a final fast lap. Can you tell us what went into that decision?
**[BORTOLETO]:** Yeah, it was a tough call, but ultimately it came down to fuel calculations. There are some unique rules in F2 regarding fuel that we had to take into account. We felt that our best chance for the race was to prioritize a good race strategy rather than chasing that extra tenth on the grid. [[1](https://grandepremio.com/es/f2/paul-aron-hitech-pole-f2-qatar-gabriel-bortoleto-duerksen-marti-2024/)]
**[HOST]:** It sounds like a calculated risk. Given your speed throughout practice, are you confident you can fight for the win regardless of starting position?
**[BORTOLETO]:** Absolutely! The car is fast, and I’m feeling confident. We have a strong race strategy, and I’m ready to fight for every position. This championship is tight, and every point matters, so bringing home strong results this weekend is crucial.