Kick Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto's passport stolen ahead of Canadian Grand Prix
Image credit: Gabriel Bortoleto/Instagram
Kick Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto's preparations for the Canadian Grand Prix were marred by an unexpected hiccup — the theft of his passport. The incident occurred while Bortoleto was in Switzerland preparing for the race weekend.
Thieves broke into his car and made off with his backpack, which contained his passport, computer, and racing gear.
Gabriel Bortoleto's debut season with Sauber
Despite the theft, Kick Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto fortunately managed to catch his flight to Canada using a second passport, minimising the disruption to his schedule.
'I had gone to dinner one day in Switzerland and they ended up opening the car and taking my backpack. I had my passports, everything inside — my computer, all my running gear,' Bortoleto told Brazilian media, as quoted by Mirror.
'It was chaos, but we managed to find the guy. Everything worked out in the end. I have my passports. We didn't find everything, but we did find some things,' he said.
All about Gabriel Bortoleto
This is the 20-year-old's debut season as a Formula 1 driver. Bortoleto currently races for Sauber, having joined the team ahead of the 2025 season. He is yet to score a point, with his best finish so far being 12th place at the Spanish Grand Prix in May.
Just three years ago, in 2022, Bortoleto's racing career was at a crossroads.
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Without sponsorship or formal management, his future in motorsport was uncertain. Determined to keep the dream alive, Bortoleto and his father explored every possible opportunity — and that's when two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso entered the picture.
Alonso had been following Bortoleto's career closely since his time in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) and was impressed by the young Brazilian's growth and determination.
'We have a very good relationship with each other,' Bortoleto told F1.com. 'I think it's mainly a professional relationship. Always when we talk, it's mainly about racing. When I see him on track, if I have any questions, he always helped me in F3 and F2,' he said.
Also Read:
Canadian Grand Prix 2025: Schedule, when and where to watch the race, weather prediction
With Alonso's mentorship and guidance, Bortoleto flourished, winning the FRECA championship in his rookie season. He later went on to win the Formula 2 title in 2024.
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