Brazilian motorsport fans have a reason to celebrate this weekend as Gabriel Bortoleto and Rafael Câmara are set to end a decade-long wait at the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix. The pair will line up together at Interlagos Circuit on Sunday, marking the first time since 2016 that Brazil will be represented by more than one of their own in an F1 event.
Back in 2016, Felipe Massa and Felipe Nasr were the two Brazilians who competed last time. Ten years later, Bortoleto and Câmara have brought the country back to having two drivers on the F1 grid.
Bortoleto is currently competing in his second full-time season with Audi. Meanwhile, Câmara received an unexpected opportunity to make his F1 debut with the Haas F1 Team at his home Grand Prix after being brought in to replace Esteban Ocon ahead of the Brazil weekend.
Rafael Câmara had already secured a multi-year deal to join Haas as a full-time driver in 2027. However, the team decided to fast-track his promotion, allowing him to make his first F1 appearance in front of his home crowd.
Gabriel Bortoleto and Rafael Câmara Bring Childhood Dream to Interlagos
Sunday’s São Paulo Grand Prix is special for both drivers, who have known each other since their childhood karting days.
Around 14 years ago, Bortoleto and Câmara were racing go-karts together, spending time at each other’s houses and dreaming of making it to the highest level of motorsport. Now, the childhood friends have found themselves sharing the F1 grid at their home race.
Rafael Câmara, who is set to make his F1 debut, is currently competing in F2 and is leading the drivers’ standings with seven points.
During Thursday’s press conference, when asked about whether he would return to F2 after the São Paulo Grand Prix, the 21-year-old admitted that his immediate priority was just to enjoy his F1 debut.
“It is something that will be discussed,” Câmara said. “I just want to make sure to have a great time this weekend.
“I don’t think it will be an easy weekend; there will be a lot of things to learn. I will just focus on the things I can control.”
Gabriel Bortoleto Says His Childhood Friend Rafael Câmara Deserves To Race in F1
Bortoleto, who has scored four top-10 finishes, was asked whether he had offered his childhood friend any advice ahead of his F1 debut. The Audi driver said: “I’ve only raced here for two years. He is talented; he deserves to be here.”
Bortoleto also highlighted how difficult it has become for young Brazilian drivers to reach F1 because of the financial challenges associated with motorsport. He expressed hope that the sport would become more accessible to young Brazilian drivers in the future.
“Hopefully the sport can be more accessible in the future,” the Brazilian said.
Watch Bortoleto and Câmara in action this weekend, starting with FP1 and FP2 on November 6, followed by FP3 and Qualifying on Saturday before concluding the action with the São Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday at 2 PM local time.
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