Gabriel Bortoleto’s Formula 1 misfortunes continue at the Imola GP as strategy gambles flop.
- Despite starting 14th, Bortoleto’s three-stop strategy at the race backfired, costing him crucial positions.
- Esteban Ocon’s Virtual Safety Car further complicated Bortoleto’s race, leaving him playing catch-up.
- A lengthy Safety Car period later added to Bortoleto’s woes, draining his chances of recovery.
- Still, Bortoleto remains optimistic, believing Sauber’s pace showed promise despite the setbacks.
In what has been a challenging debut season for Gabriel Bortoleto, the Imola Grand Prix was another tough outing. From the 14th starting position, the rookie hoped to climb the ranks with a strategic gamble, opting for a three-stop approach. However, the strategies that seemed promising on paper turned disastrous as the events unfolded.
The complexities began when Esteban Ocon suffered issues on lap 29, bringing out a Virtual Safety Car (VSC). Drivers employing a one-stop approach, unlike Bortoleto, benefited significantly from a well-timed pit stop under the VSC, leaving Bortoleto at a disadvantage. His subsequent pit stop, misaligned with the VSC timing, meant he was last in and, unfortunately, last out, setting him far back as the race continued.
Hope flickered briefly when a full Safety Car appeared on lap 46 following Kimi Antonelli’s halt on the track. Yet, this turned out to be another setback for Bortoleto. The prolonged six-lap period it took for Race Control to address the issue drastically cut into his limited opportunities. By the time the race resumed, even Oliver Bearman had overtaken him.
Reflecting on the race, Bortoleto admitted to feeling ‘f***ed’ by the VSC, recognizing the strategic errors that deviated from their plan. Learning from these experiences remains crucial as he noted, ‘Honestly, the pace on the hards was okay, it was good. Just a shame that we could not show that in the results.’ Despite the frustrating outcomes, his determination to pinpoint failures and build better strategies was evident.
Intricacies of racing demand an ability to adapt to unpredictable elements, something highlighted during Bortoleto’s race. He expressed disappointment over the prolonged Safety Car duration, which undid much of the strategy conversations held pre-race. ‘You cannot predict when a Safety Car is coming in or not,’ Bortoleto remarked, echoing the reality of F1 unpredictability. Starting on hard tires might have changed the day’s prospects, but such decisions are easy to critique in hindsight.
Despite failing to score points and ending among the five zeros of the season so far, Bortoleto draws some solace from the inherent pace Sauber demonstrated. He kept pace with competitors like Gasly and Lawson, who shared misfortunes, ending with no better results. This gave a glimmer of belief that improvements and better results could be on the horizon.
Gabriel Bortoleto’s race at Imola was a testament to the unpredictable nature of F1, promising potential yet showcasing the cruelties of racing strategy.
