On selected Thursdays across Formula 1’s European season, GPUpdate.net shares an insight into the up and coming stars of tomorrow. We talked with Formula 2 championship leader Mirko Bortolotti for the latest volume, a man who is currently dominating the category as he bids to break into the top echelon of motorsport.
Name Mirko Bortolotti
Born 10 January 1990, Trento, Italy
Age 21
Twitter @M_Bortolotti
Current series Formula 2
Team N/A
Career in a nut shell Karting -> Italian Formula Renault -> Formula Azzura -> Italian Formula 3 -> Formula 2 -> GP3 -> Formula 2
Did you know?
Mirko Bortolotti has tested Formula 1 machinery for both Ferrari and Toro Rosso during his career so far, experiencing a taste of the sport with his prize drive in the F2008, a car which won eight races at the hands of Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen. The test was earned through his achievements in the 2008 Italian Formula 3 championship.
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Two minutes with Mirko Bortolotti...
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How did you get interested in racing?
Well I started very young, I was like four years old. I had a big passion for this, and that’s the reason why one day my dad bought me a go-kart and everything started. I did my first steps in Austria, because I lived there as I do currently. There is a go-kart track close to Vienna where I actually started, and it was step by step.
At the beginning it was just fun, then I took part in my first race and I did well. So you keep doing races and races and then you start doing championships, it’s a chain reaction. Slowly everything starts, and after that when I was around 15-years-old I grew up to Formula classes.
I started in Italy with Formula Azzurra which is now called Formula Abarth. After that I did Formula 3 and I won the championship in 2008, then obviously I went to Formula 2 for the first season in 2009. Last year I did GP3 with the Ferrari Driver Academy and now I’m back in Formula 2!
What's your greatest achievement so far?
I think that (winning) a championship is always a big achievement, so 2008 was a very good year for us to win the Italian Formula 3 championship. Obviously the first couple of days in Formula 1 when you do testing, it is a big thing that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Testing for Ferrari was a very cool thing, every test was a different approach because the first was just a prize and then the others were relating to development. But anyway, every time you get into a Formula 1 car it’s a big thing and obviously it’s the best car.
Do you have any racing heroes?
In the past I think it was Michael Schumacher. Obviously when you win a couple of world championships in a row you have to be a big talent, so that was maybe one of my heroes in the last couple of years. But in terms of driving I really miss Kimi Räikkönen in Formula 1 to be honest, he’s a very good driver and I’m still a big fan of him.
Who excites you most on the current F1 grid?
I would say Sebastian Vettel for sure, he’s very exciting. But the biggest entertainer, the biggest racer is Lewis Hamilton. Vettel is number one at the moment, he has a great package around him so I think it’s going to be hard (for someone) to beat him this year. In terms of skill I think they are equal, everybody has their own style but maybe Hamilton is a bit more aggressive.
And finally…tell us something crazy about yourself please…
I’m quite calm and quite normal. Apart from racing I’ve played drums for ten years, so that could be another thing. I like playing football as a hobby, but I’m really mad about cars. I love them, so I try to go to car festivals and things like that.
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Mirko Bortolotti was talking to GPUpdate.net’s Mike Seymour
Twitter: @MikeSeymourF1
Volume 8 of GPUpdate's One 2 Watch will be available on Thursday 8 September
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