Gabriel Bortoleto finished the Formula 1 Chinese GP Sprint race in 13th place. In the race held this Saturday (14), the Audi competitor started 14th and managed to gain one position during the 19 laps of the contest.
Read more F1: Bortoleto says he did «what could be done» in the China Sprint
For the Sprint race in Shanghai, the temperature was quite cold, despite the steady weather and clear sky. The thermometer read 14ºC, while the asphalt also reached 14ºC and the humidity was around 51%.
On the starting grid, Bortoleto lined up in 14th place after a complicated qualifying session. The driver was on the seventh row side by side with Liam Lawson, from Racing Bulls.
Start authorized in China and with Max Verstappen losing positions, plummeting to the back of the pack, the Brazilian Audi driver gained a position. At that moment of the first lap’s conclusion, a momentary yellow flag appeared, but the race soon continued.
Nico Hülkenberg, Gabriel’s teammate, also ended up dropping significantly. The German, who started 11th, fell to 20th and was overtaking Sergio Pérez for 19th place.
Meanwhile, Bortoleto managed to advance a bit more in the pack. The Brazilian left Franco Colapinto behind and was 12th, but had none other than Verstappen right behind him, less than 1s on his tail – but both were on the same pace, having clocked 1min39s2 on the last lap.
With nine laps completed, Gabriel managed to stay in 12th place and hold off the four-time Red Bull champion. Both continued with the same pace, clocking 1min39s3 on the last lap – shortly after, the Audi driver opened up 0s7 on the Dutchman.
Read more F1: Check out the full result of the 2026 Chinese GP Sprint Race
On the 12th lap, Bortoleto managed to move up to 11th by leaving Esteban Ocon behind. However, a few corners later, not only the French Haas driver but also Verstappen passed the Brazilian, who dropped to 13th.
On the following lap, there was a safety car interruption due to a problem with Hülkenberg. Audi came on the radio and asked the German to stop the car immediately – this would bunch everyone up on the track.
At this moment, a series of drivers went to the pits to change tires and Max took the opportunity. Meanwhile, Bortoleto stayed on track and, therefore, moved up once again to 12th.
The green flag waved with three laps to the checkered flag. Gabriel stayed in 12th trying to close in on Carlos Sainz, in 11th, and trying to hold off Verstappen, who had passed Fernando Alonso and was 13th. Shortly after, the Brazilian Audi driver was passed by Max and dropped one more position.
Checkered flag and Bortoleto crossed the finish line in 13th place, moving up one position compared to his place on the starting grid in the Formula 1 Chinese GP Sprint race.
Gabriel Bortoleto returns to the track in qualifying for the main race in Shanghai later this Saturday, 14, at 4 am Brasília time.
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