Alonso’s star rookie, Bortoleto, 'happy with progress' at Sauber
F1 News
Gabriel Bortoleto, having won F3 and F2 in his first years in the feeder series, landed a seat at Sauber where he will make his F1 debut come March in Australia. The young Brazilian star is getting up to speed before the season gets underway after having taken the wheel on the second of a 2-day long TPC held at Imola by the Swiss team.
"Two days done here in Imola, very positive," says the Brazilian in a video posted by Sauber on X. "Very nice to be back in the car after almost two months."
"Quite happy with our progress to these two days. Basically all wet sessions, but very good, happy. Thanks to the whole team for making this TPC happen," concluded a positive Bortoleto having finished a 2-day long run for Sauber at Imola in the Hinwill based team's C42 from the 2022 season.
"Hope people do not forget he’s better than them"
When asked about his young pupil during the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso, replied to media including GPBlog, "He’s the best. Nothing really I can add," started the Spaniard who managed Bortoleto through A14, his driver talent management agency. "He was in his rookie season in F3, champion, he was in his rookie season in F2, champion," said Alonso highlighting Bortoleto’s accomplishments.
Next year, not only the Brazilian, but also Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercede), Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) and Jack Doohan (Alpine), will also make their F1 debut, and in Liam Lawson's and Oliver Bearman's case, they will run their first full season in the category, and Alonso has a message for all of them.
"A lot of rookies also next year, very talented all of them but the best is Gabriel," added the Spaniard. "[Bortoleto did] Show [this] on track with the best, with the same cars. Obviously next year he will not have the same car as some of the rookies, but I hope the people do not forget that he’s better than them. He was and he will [be]," concluded Alonso.
Testing in Imola
— Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber (@stakef1team_ks) January 23, 2025
Thanks for the update Gabi pic.twitter.com/hazNVOufYh
This article was written in collaboration with Norberto Mujica.
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