Alonso tries to help F2 talent get seat in F1, talks ongoing
F1 News
- Corwin Kunst
Gabriel Bortoleto is having a fine season in Formula 2. The Brazilian is in second place in the championship after ten weekends and a title - although trailing by 36 points - is still a possibility. Fernando Alonso is looking after Bortoleto's interests and acknowledges that teams are inquiring about him.
Bortoleto's star is rising. The 19-year-old driver won last year's Formula 3 championship with Trident and this season competes for Invicta Racing in the Formula 2 series. There, he won the main race at the Red Bull Ring and finished second twice in Imola and Spain on Sunday. As a result, Bortoleto occupies a neat second place in the drivers' standings.
"Gabriel has extraordinary talent and is ready for big challenges. Formula 1 is definitely the next step for Gabriel. He is doing very well in Formula 2, but you have to find the right moment to make the step to Formula 1. You better not be too early or too late, your timing has to be right," Alonso told Band.
Alonso helps Bortoleto
That is at the same time Bortoleto's biggest challenge, Alonso believes. The 42-year-old Spaniard - more than twice his age - is trying to help the talent with that, as he is part of the A14 management group, of which the Spaniard is a co-founder. The Aston Martin driver, of course, has particularly many connections in the paddock.
"Of course there are opportunities [for him]. He is a driver that the teams are watching closely, the drivers respect him, the teams also respect him and ask about him. Not just Audi, so I hope we find a suitable option," Alonso said.
This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sarkozi
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