When Your Passport Gets Nicked and You're Supposed to Race in Canada

By Lewis Barnett 13 June, 2025 6 mins read 67 Views

God, imagine this nightmare scenario.

You're Gabriel Bortoleto, 20 years old, making £1.5 million a year driving for Sauber in your rookie F1 season. You're in Switzerland having dinner with friends - probably some fancy place because, well, Switzerland - and some opportunistic thieves decide your car looks interesting. Next thing you know, your entire life is in their hands because they've grabbed your backpack with literally everything important inside.

Switzerland: Beautiful Country, Annoying Criminals

The Brazilian explained what happened, and honestly, it sounds like something out of a bad movie: "I had gone to dinner one day in Switzerland and they ended up opening the car and taking my backpack. I had my passports, everything inside, my computer, all my running gear."

Passports. Plural. Because when you're an F1 driver, you need backup documentation for all the international travel. Smart move, except when both are sitting in the same bag that's now in some thief's possession.

The computer thing really gets me - that's probably got years of data, personal stuff, maybe racing telemetry or training programs. And the running gear? Come on, that's just petty at that point.

4,000 Miles of Pure Stress

Bortoleto had to scramble to get a second passport (thankfully he had one) and make the 4,000+ mile journey to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix. Can you imagine the stress? Your rookie season, you're still trying to prove yourself, and suddenly you're dealing with international bureaucracy and police reports instead of focusing on setup changes and tire strategy.

"It was chaos, but we managed to find the guy," Bortoleto said later. The Swiss police actually caught the thieves and recovered some items, which is more than you'd expect in most places. Still, he admitted they "didn't find everything, but we did find some things."

F1 Drivers: Apparently Irresistible to Thieves

This isn't even unusual anymore, which is frankly depressing.

Back in 2023, Carlos Sainz had three guys try to steal his £500,000 watch right after the Italian Grand Prix. Half a million pounds. On his wrist. The audacity of these people is honestly impressive in the worst possible way.

These drivers are walking targets - young, wealthy, traveling constantly, often in expensive cars wearing expensive accessories. It's like they've got "rob me" signs tattooed on their foreheads.

Meanwhile, Back to Racing (Finally)

Despite all this drama, Bortoleto made it to Montreal and managed to focus on what he's actually paid to do. His best result so far this season was 12th place in Barcelona - not exactly setting the world on fire, but hey, he's still learning.

His teammate Nico Hulkenberg grabbed fifth place in Spain, which made everyone remember why experience matters in F1. Poor Lewis Hamilton got passed by the 40-year-old German on the last lap and called it his "worst-ever race." Ouch.

The Canadian Grand Prix weekend is shaping up to be interesting for other reasons too. Lando Norris is trying to get ahead of Oscar Piastri in their internal McLaren battle, and Max Verstappen is apparently one mistake away from a race ban after that mess with George Russell in Spain.

But honestly? After dealing with Swiss car thieves and international passport drama, Bortoleto probably feels like he can handle anything the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve throws at him.

Sometimes the hardest part of racing isn't the actual racing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What costs do not count towards the Formula 1 budget cap limit?

Certain expenses are excluded from the Formula 1 budget cap to allow teams some flexibility. Typically, these exclusions include marketing costs and driver salaries as well as the salaries of the top 3 executives or personnel. Additionally, capital expenditures and expenses related to corporate income tax and employee bonuses or benefits are also outside the cap.

How much does it cost to buy a Formula 1 driving wheel?

A Formula 1 steering is an extremely complex piece of equipment. It contains dials, buttons and displays that control different car functions. A Formula 1 steering can cost between $50,000 and $100,000 due to its custom design and technology.

How have hybrid power units impacted the costs of Formula 1 teams?

In Formula 1, the introduction of hybrid engines has led to a greater level of technological complexity, and therefore, increased costs. Due to the high costs of development, maintenance, and production of these hybrid engine, teams have seen their costs rise since 2014. In order to remain competitive, the teams must increase budgets allocated to research and development.

What role does sponsorship play in Formula 1 teams finances?

The sponsorships of Formula 1 teams are crucial to their financial health. Sponsorships provide an important source of revenue that helps to cover the expensive costs of competing. Sponsorships may range from small contributions based on logos to larger title sponsorships valued at tens and millions of dollar annually. These partnerships are vital for teams in order to maintain their operations and stay competitive.

What is Formula 1’s Budget Cap?

The budget cap is a recent introduction to Formula 1 designed to promote financial sustainability and competitive balance among teams. The 2021 budget cap is $145 million. It excludes expenses such as driver salaries or marketing. The budget cap will be gradually reduced in subsequent years.

What is a Formula 1 motor's price?

The Formula 1 engine is one of the most complex pieces of equipment in the sport. Teams spend anywhere between $7 million to $10,000 on a single engine to achieve the performance and technology necessary to compete in the highest level.

Statistics

The cost of a full-scale Formula 1 simulator can reach several million dollars, with annual maintenance adding to the financial impact.
The operational costs for a Formula 1 team per season can range from $120 million to over $400 million, depending on the team's size and aspirations.
A Formula 1 car's carbon fiber body parts, essential for performance and safety, contribute significantly to the overall production costs of the vehicle.
The financial cost of a Formula 1 car crash can range from a few tens of thousands to over $1 million, dependent on the extent of the damage.
Racing suits worn by Formula 1 drivers can cost from $2,000 to $5,000, integrating high levels of safety and performance features.
Wind tunnel testing costs in Formula 1 can be as high as $100,000 per day, which is a critical part of car development.
Sponsorship deals are critical in Formula 1, with major title sponsorships sometimes contributing tens of millions of dollars to a team's budget.
Hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix can cost a hosting circuit more than $70 million, including the sanctioning fees and the cost of preparations.

External Links

How To

How To Choose the Right Formula 1 Racing Tires

It is vital to the performance of Formula 1 race tires that you choose the correct tire. Understanding the track conditions will help you determine whether medium or hard compounds would be best. Working closely with tire suppliers such as Pirelli to choose tires that suit the circuit's temperature and layout is important. Consider the race strategy. Certain compounds are more durable than others, or vice versa. Take into account the rules and regulations that limit tire allocations and how your choice of tires may affect the handling and fuel load during the race.

Did you miss our previous article...
https://sportingexcitement.com/formula-1/ferraris-meltdown-when-your-dream-team-becomes-a-nightmare