Gabriel Bortoleto makes bold claim about F1 media after 'complications'

Gabriel Bortoleto has highlighted a specific area of his rookie F1 season that has proven more complicated than anticipated.

The reigning F2 champion has made a solid start to life in the pinnacle of motorsport following his arrival with the Sauber squad, despite it possessing one of the weakest packages on the grid. 

Bortoleto, though, has made multiple Q2 appearances, but a points finish still eludes him this year, unlike for experienced team-mate Nico Hulkenberg. 

Hulkenberg has been a strong reference point for the Brazilian to learn from, particularly at circuits he does not know. As for his biggest test, however, that has been the F1 media.

"Well, honestly, I think so far has been quite good," Bortoleto told select media, including RacingNews365. "The new tracks I have been able to adapt to. 

"I think I have a very strong team-mate, so it's also a good data reference to see new tracks and to learn new things. [But] I don't think new tracks are the biggest topic for rookies. 

"I think there are other things involved in your rookie season that are a bit more complicated, such as the media. In F2, you don't have any of these things. 

"So basically, you get to the track on Thursday, you talk to your engineers, you have your free time, you think about only racing, and that's it."

Bortoleto: "I have never had anything like this before"

The number of media commitments an F1 driver has is unlike anything in any other category, making it a shock for rookie drivers. 

As highlighted by the 20-year-old, never in his 15-year motorsport career has he had to conduct so much media work - which he revealed on media day for this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix.

"In F1, you have so many more commitments to attend, for sponsors, for media," explained the Stake F1 driver. "It doesn't mean it's a bad thing. It's just that it takes more of your time than normal in all the other series. 

"I started racing when I was six, and for, let's say, almost 15 years, I have never had anything like this before. 

"In the few months that I've been racing in Formula 1, you need to get used to all this media and time allocation for you guys and for the sponsors, and still perform the best you can on track. I would say this is the biggest topic for rookies."