Isabella Bernardini Showcases Upcycled Audi-adidas Fashion at Interlagos
Paddock style took center stage ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix as Isabella Bernardini, the partner of Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto, arrived at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos wearing an exclusive, upcycled dress. The bespoke outfit was crafted from pieces of Audi’s special adidas capsule collection, specifically developed to mark Bortoleto’s home race weekend in Brazil.
The design was brought to life by upcycling specialist and designer Fiona Roerig, who collaborated closely with both the team and Bernardini to bring their shared aesthetic vision to the paddock. Built from the garments of the adidas Sampa Soul collection, the ensemble utilizes a distinct palette featuring rich forest green juxtaposed against metallic gold. Paying homage to local artistry, the garment features intricate embroidery inspired by São Paulo’s heritage of crochet and needlework. To complete the personalized look, Bernardini ensured direct nods to Bortoleto, prominently incorporating his official driver number, five, into the design.
Motorsport enthusiasts and fashion followers immediately took to social media to react to the striking look. One supporter wrote on X, “Beautiful merchandising by Isabella! And there couldn’t be a better number one supporter and fan for our Brazilian boy!”
Another fan remarked, “Ahh I love it!! She looks gorgeous. We need merch like this!!”
Additional praise highlighted the collaboration, with a user noting, “A team where everyone gets treated equally. Impressive,”
while another shared, “That dress is gorgeous.”
Difficult Wet Qualifying Sets Up Recovery Drive for Gabriel Bortoleto
While Bernardini’s attire generated positive buzz off the circuit, Bortoleto endured an uphill battle on track during a treacherous, rain-affected qualifying session. The Brazilian driver is set to line up 19th on the grid for Sunday’s race after a mistake sent his car sliding off course and into the barriers, prematurely ending his Saturday running.
Reflecting on the incident that sealed his low grid position, Bortoleto addressed the media to explain what happened in the cockpit: “Early in the qualifying, I was trying to keep some distance from Ollie [Bearman], as I was catching up to him,”
Bortoleto explained. “I ended up locking the front wheel and couldn’t stop the car in time before hitting the wall. It wasn’t a hard impact, but it shifted the wing, and we couldn’t continue like that. They tried to replace it, but there wasn’t enough time.”
Describing the delicate track conditions that caught him out, Bortoleto added: “At the start of qualifying, it was very wet. Coming out of turns 4 and 5, you couldn’t go full throttle. Honestly, at the corner where I crashed, it was very easy to lock a wheel and end up in the wall.”
Looking ahead to his strategy for the Grand Prix, the home favorite emphasized the need to reset mentally before taking on the pack on Sunday: “For now, I just want to go home and rest; it’s been a very long day. Everything had been going incredibly well until I made a mistake in qualifying. I need to clear my head, and tomorrow we’ll figure out the plan. I’ll likely be starting from the back, or close to it. I just want to try and put together a strong recovery race.”
Why This Matters
The intersection of Formula 1, lifestyle apparel, and sustainable fashion continues to expand as teams look beyond standard event merchandise. Collaborations like the one between Audi, adidas, and independent designers such as Fiona Roerig highlight a growing appetite for upcycling and culturally contextual apparel that honors the host venue. On the sporting side, starting from 19th places enormous pressure on Gabriel Bortoleto at his home venue in São Paulo. Given the notoriously unpredictable weather and overtaking opportunities at Interlagos, Bortoleto’s recovery drive through the field will serve as a major test of race pace and tire management for the Audi operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Isabella Bernardini’s dress for the Brazilian Grand Prix?
The dress was created by designer and upcycler Fiona Roerig, who worked alongside Isabella Bernardini and the team to transform items from the adidas Sampa Soul collection into a one-of-a-kind piece.
What details were featured on the custom Audi-adidas dress?
The dress incorporated forest green and metallic gold colors, embroidery inspired by São Paulo’s traditional crochet and needlework, and Gabriel Bortoleto’s car racing number, five.
Where will Gabriel Bortoleto start the Brazilian Grand Prix?
Bortoleto will start from 19th position on the grid after locking up a front wheel and damaging his front wing against the wall during wet qualifying conditions.
