Massa Backs Bortoleto Ahead of Interlagos Debut as Latin America Reemerges in F1

Overview

• Felipe Massa praised Gabriel Bortoleto as the season’s best rookie and urged him to harness the Interlagos crowd, joking he wants to see the newcomer finish in the top five.
• Bortoleto, 21, has scored in five Grands Prix with a best of sixth in Hungary and most recently took tenth in Mexico.
• He makes his first home start at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday at Interlagos, returning a local driver to the grid for the event.
• Argentina’s Franco Colapinto, 22, races for Alpine but remains without points this season and faces uncertainty over his long‑term place.
• Bortoleto will have personal support at the circuit as longtime partner Isabella Bernardini attends his home debut.