Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto clinches 2024 Formula 2 Championship

Brazilian motorsport kicked off Sunday morning (Dec. 8) with a championship title. Gabriel Bortoleto, a 20-year-old Brazilian set to join Sauber in Formula 1 in 2025, secured the Formula 2 world championship after finishing second in the Abu Dhabi GP (United Arab Emirates), earning enough points to clinch the title.

He benefited from the misfortune of his main rival, Frenchman Isack Hadjar, whose car stalled at the start, leaving him to finish in 19th place. With this victory, Bortoleto adds the Formula 2 title to his achievements, alongside last year's Formula 3 championship.

Heading into the season's final race, the gap between the Brazilian and Frenchman stood at only 4.5 points: Bortoleto led with 196.5 points, while Hadjar trailed with 192. On Sunday, Bortoleto started from second on the grid, just behind Frenchman Victor Martins and ahead of Hadjar. However, the race took a dramatic turn right at the start. Hadjar stalled and was forced to pit, while Bortoleto seized the opportunity to overtake Martins and claim the lead.

With his main rival out of title contention, Bortoleto focused on running a steady, strategic race. After falling to tenth following his pit stop, he gradually climbed back as other drivers pitted. On lap 29, he overtook Victor Martins once more, reclaiming second place. The race victory, however, went to Paraguay’s Joshua Durksen.

Bortoleto clinched the championship with a final score of 214.5 points, including two victories during the season. In early November, Sauber announced him as their first driver for the 2025 season, partnering with German veteran Nico Hülkenberg. This marks Brazil's return to Formula 1's elite, with its first representative since Felipe Massa's final race in 2017.