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Emerging talent Gabriel Bortoleto harbors significant belief in the forthcoming transition of Sauber's Formula 1 team under Audi's complete acquisition by 2026. This conviction, shared recently at the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed, underscores the ambitious vision for the team's future in the pinnacle of motorsport.

During a candid conversation with Ben Hunt at the iconic Goodwood event, Bortoleto articulated his insights. Having just completed a spirited run in a classic Sauber C32 Formula 1 machine up the challenging hill climb, his remarks carried the weight of a driver deeply connected to the sport's technical and strategic evolutions. His perspective is particularly pertinent given the substantial investment and strategic shift Audi is poised to make.

Audi's commitment to fully integrate Sauber into its factory F1 program signifies a major shake-up in the sport. This long-term project aims to establish a formidable presence on the grid, backed by significant resources and a clear developmental roadmap. Bortoleto's early confidence suggests an internal belief within the team regarding the capabilities and potential of the partnership, even years ahead of its full implementation.

The current landscape of Formula 1 is highly competitive, with established teams boasting decades of experience. However, Audi's entry is not merely a symbolic gesture; it is a meticulously planned strategic move designed to challenge the status quo. Bortoleto's observations, albeit early, provide a glimpse into the internal atmosphere and the perceived strength of the upcoming Audi project, indicating a positive outlook on their ability to adapt to new regulations and compete at the highest level.

Gabriel Bortoleto's unwavering belief in Audi's impending Formula 1 venture underscores the positive sentiment surrounding the manufacturer's full integration into the sport by 2026. This strategic shift is anticipated to introduce a new era of competition, backed by substantial resources and a clear vision for success.

In a significant turn of events at the Interlagos circuit, the Cadillac team faced a setback during the World Endurance Championship qualifying, as one of their leading cars incurred a grid penalty. This decision reshaped the initial starting positions for the highly anticipated 6 Hours of Sao Paulo endurance race, impacting the team's promising performance.

During the intense Hyperpole session, the #38 Cadillac V-Series.R LMDh, driven by Sébastien Bourdais, initially secured the second-fastest time, positioning the team for a dominant front-row presence alongside their Jota Cadillac counterpart, Alex Lynn, who claimed pole position. However, race stewards reviewed an incident from the earlier qualifying segment where Bourdais' vehicle was deemed to have obstructed the #93 Peugeot 9X8, piloted by Paul di Resta, at Turn 12 of the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace.

Following a thorough review of the video evidence, the stewards concluded that despite the absence of malicious intent, Bourdais' actions constituted an impeding offense, violating Appendix L of the FIA International Sporting Code. As a result, the #38 Cadillac was handed a one-grid-position penalty. This ruling, which cannot be appealed by Jota or Cadillac under the prevailing ISC regulations, altered the starting lineup for the main event.

The penalty to the #38 Cadillac means that the factory Penske-run Porsche 963 LMDh, qualified by Julien Andlauer, will now ascend to the front row, taking the spot alongside Lynn's pole-sitting Cadillac. Bourdais' car will consequently begin the race from third place on the grid, lining up next to the #94 Peugeot, which Malthe Jakobsen had secured fourth position with during the Hyperpole session.

This development prevented Jota from achieving a second consecutive front-row lock-out, a feat they had previously accomplished at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. Lynn's pole position in Brazil marks his third Hypercar class pole in the WEC, showcasing a consistent strong performance for the Cadillac factory program, now managed by Chip Ganassi Racing. The Sao Paulo 6 Hours, serving as the fifth round of the 2025 WEC season, is scheduled to commence at 11:30 local time on Sunday, promising an exciting race following these grid changes.

The adjustments to the starting grid add an intriguing dynamic to the race, highlighting the critical role of precision and adherence to regulations in competitive motorsport. Teams will now need to adapt their race strategies to account for the altered starting positions, setting the stage for a compelling contest.