The comparison between Gabriel Bortoleto and Jack Doohan is less about a direct, season-long rivalry forged on track and more a study in differing trajectories through the junior categories, one marked by explosive success and the other by steady, incremental progress towards Formula 1.
The eras
Bortoleto's rise has been meteoric. After a solid but not spectacular stint in FRECA, his 2023 FIA Formula 3 season was a masterclass in consistency and strategic race management, securing the championship with Trident before the final round. This single dominant season propelled him into Formula 2 for 2024 and subsequently into a Kick Sauber F1 seat for 2025. Doohan, conversely, has carved a more traditional path. He spent two full seasons in FIA Formula 3, finishing second in 2021, before moving to Formula 2 for two full campaigns in 2022 and 2023. His F2 tenure was marked by multiple race wins and pole positions, culminating in a third-place finish in the 2023 championship, solidifying his status as an Alpine reserve driver and a strong F1 contender.
How they overlapped
Remarkably, Bortoleto and Doohan did not directly compete in the same championship until the 2024 Formula 2 season. While Doohan was battling for the F3 title in 2021, Bortoleto was in FRECA. When Bortoleto dominated F3 in 2023, Doohan was already a seasoned F2 competitor, securing multiple victories. Their paths, therefore, have been parallel rather than intertwined, making their 2024 F2 season the first true head-to-head comparison of their abilities in identical machinery. This contrasts sharply with the direct, often acrimonious, battles seen in pairings like Lewis Hamilton vs Nico Rosberg (2014–2016), where shared history fueled the rivalry.
On track
Bortoleto's defining characteristic on track is his exceptional racecraft and tire management, coupled with a remarkable ability to extract consistent points. His F3 title was built on podium finishes and astute strategy rather than outright dominance in terms of wins. This calculated approach is reminiscent of drivers who prioritize championship accumulation, a trait that can be invaluable in F1. Doohan, on the other hand, possesses raw, explosive speed. His F2 career is punctuated by spectacular pole laps and dominant race wins, particularly at circuits like Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone. He has shown a greater propensity for outright pace, often leading from the front. However, this has sometimes been offset by a lack of the championship-defining consistency Bortoleto demonstrated. If we consider the impact of a rookie on a team, Bortoleto's rapid F1 elevation echoes the immediate impression a young made.