Gabriel Bortoleto’s partner, Isabella Bernardini, arrived at Interlagos ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix wearing a custom dress crafted from Audi’s special adidas range for the event. The one-off garment was created by designer and upcycler Fiona Roerig, who collaborated with the team and Bernardini to blend their concepts into the finished piece.
Custom Design Details
The dress was upcycled from the adidas Sampa Soul collection, which the German manufacturer introduced specifically for Bortoleto’s home race. Its color palette features forest green paired with metallic gold, and the embroidery is inspired by the traditional crochet and needlework history of São Paulo. Bernardini also paid tribute to her partner by weaving his racing number, five, directly into the attire.
Supporters flooded social media platform X to share positive reactions to the unique outfit. One user praised the merchandising and called her the ultimate supporter for the Brazilian driver, while another expressed admiration for her appearance and a desire for similar retail merchandise. Additional comments highlighted equality in team treatment and praised the aesthetic appeal of the dress.
Qualifying Difficulties
On the track, Bortoleto experienced a challenging qualifying session and will start his home grand prix from 19th on the grid after sliding into the barriers during heavy rain. Speaking to the media after the session, he explained that he was attempting to maintain distance from Ollie Bearman as he caught up to him.
He locked his front wheel and could not stop the vehicle in time to avoid the wall. Although the collision was not severe, it damaged the front wing beyond immediate repair during the brief window available. He noted that the track conditions at the start of qualifying were extremely wet, making full throttle impossible out of turns four and five, and describing the crash corner as a high-risk spot for wheel locking.
Looking ahead, Bortoleto stated that he plans to rest after a long day, clear his head, and evaluate the strategy for the race from the back of the grid with the goal of executing a strong recovery performance.
