Gabriel Bortoleto achieved something remarkable in FIA Formula 2’s 2024 Monza Feature Race, becoming the first driver in the category’s history to go from last on the grid to first at the flag.
After beaching his Invicta Racing F2 car in the gravel during a frenetic Friday qualifying session, the Brazilian faced an uphill struggle in a weekend that could’ve significantly derailed his 2024 title assault.
His performance in the Sprint Race was impressive enough, rising 14 places and crossing the line in a dramatic dead heat for the final points-paying position. That finish wouldn’t be the most significant moment in the #10 driver’s weekend though.
Race start
Starting on a set of the Super Soft tyres, Bortoleto scythed his way past drivers left, right and centre on the opening lap.
On the run down to the first corner, he’d already made his way past three of his competitors, and with cars careening onto the run-off, unscheduled pitstops for repairs and the Hard tyre runners struggling to get up to temperature, he made further progress.
Lap 1: Safety Car deployed
By the end of the first lap, a Safety Car was deployed to recover Paul Aron’s stricken Hitech and with proceedings halted, it became clear that in less than a lap Bortoleto had recovered seven places to 15th.
The stoppage was brief, though, and racing got back underway just one lap later.
Lap 5: The march forward continues
After two laps of pressuring Richard Verschoor into the first chicane, Bortoleto finally battled his way past into Alboreto Curve. Heading into Lap 6, he was up to 14th.
Lap 6: Ticking off Van Amersfoort Racing
Rafael Villagomez fell back through the pack at the start of the sixth lap, handing 13th to Bortoleto. Later that same lap, he dispensed with the other Van Amersfoort driver of Enzo Fittipaldi into the Ascari chicane.
Lap 7: Pit window opens
Oliver Bearman and Victor Martins were the first of the front runners to take to the pit lane at the start of Lap 7, and so, Gabriel was promoted to 10th place.
Just ahead of the Invicta, Oliver Goethe and Pepe Marti went into combat. A lock-up for Marti into the first chicane sent him down the escape road, and displaced Goethe for the exit. An expertly judged run up to Curva Grande meant Bortoleto got the better of the pair of them, moving himself up to eighth.
At the end of the seventh tour, the seven drivers ahead peeled into the pits opting to swap the degrading Super Softs for a fresh set of Medium tyres. In eight laps, Gabriel had gone from last on the grid to first on the road.
Lap 8: Pitting from the lead
Then came a pivotal moment in the race; with Dennis Hauger stranded on the run-off at the first chicane, a Safety Car seemed inevitable. When it was deployed, Bortoleto, Marti, Verschoor and the other remaining Super Soft runners pitted.
Reemerging from the pit lane, he found himself in sixth place, the first of those who had already stopped. Ahead of him were five drivers on the alternate strategy, including Invicta Racing team-mate Kush Maini.
Lap 11: A sensational second restart
Two thirds of the race – 20 laps – separated Bortoleto and the flag as racing got back underway. A race victory looked to be on the cards, but first, he had to negotiate the alternate runners and fend off those behind.
Into the first chicane, he piled the pressure on debutant Niels Koolen who locked up in the braking zone. The wayward AIX Racing car forced Roman Stanek to run ride, which in turn enabled Bortoleto to slip through into fourth.
Lap 13: Battling back to the top
The Brazilian driver was relentless in his progress forwards, and onto the Start/Finish straight, he got past Jack Crawford with a DRS overtake that mirrored Maini’s for the lead of the race just ahead.
Later that same lap, he dove to the inside of Goethe at Alboreto Curve, giving him the inside line – and second place – into the first turn of Lap 14.
Lap 15: Bortoleto hits the front
Within another lap, he was on Maini's tail and seized the lead from his team-mate at the second chicane. Now in clear air, Gabriel set about building a gap to Zane Maloney, his closest rival on the same strategy.
Lap 19: Metronomic pace
Bortoleto extended the gap to the cars behind with one of several fastest laps in succession.
Lap 26: A comfortable lead
With five laps to go, Gabriel was in a league of his own. The gaps stood at 5.5 seconds to Maini and seven to Maloney.
Lap 29: Maini pits
With Safety Cars not playing to the strengths of the alternate strategy, Kush finally pitted on the penultimate lap, releasing Maloney into second.
Chequered flag
When Bortoleto crossed the line, he held a 9.4-second advantage over Maloney; a statement for those who might’ve questioned the legitimacy of his memorable performance.
Bortoleto delivered a drive deserving of his FIA Formula 3 champion status at Monza, and one that thrusts him back into contention for the 2024 F2 title, now just 10.5 points behind Isack Hadjar.
