Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has praised the new crop of Brazilian drivers who are emerging and are close to the top category of motorsport. In addition to Gabriel Bortoleto, currently with Sauber, Brazil will also have Rafael Câmara in Formula 2 in 2025. The Ferrari Driver Academy driver is the current F3 champion and has signed with Invicta for the next season.
Câmara will attempt to establish a successful trajectory similar to Gabriel’s in the junior categories, as he also won the F3 title with Trident in his first year.
“There are many Brazilians coming up. I’m still waiting for my passport! It’s great to see young talents emerging, I remember arriving here in 2007 and being one of them. Before arriving here, you have all these preconceived ideas about what it’s like. Most of the time, it doesn’t match what you imagined. Maybe the driving does, but then there are all the other things around it,” says Hamilton, who received the title of honorary citizen of Brazil in 2022.
Hamilton also commented on how to deal with the pressure when the driver is still young in F1. “The pressure is extremely high. These young people are being bombarded with questions. But I think they’re all handling it very well. I always wanted to be a driver. Even when I leave here, I’ll always be someone who supports the youth,” Hamilton states.
Finally, the Ferrari driver also showed enthusiasm for the growth of Bortoleto and Câmara this year.
“I simply love seeing these young people keeping their heads up, doing what they love, and with a smile. And having success. I’m as excited as you (Brazilians) are to see the progression of their careers (Bortoleto and Câmara),” Hamilton concludes.
The São Paulo Grand Prix will be held this Sunday starting at 2 pm.
The F1MANIA.NET team will be covering the São Paulo Grand Prix live, with journalists Gabriel Gavinelli and Nathalia De Vivo on site.
