Fernando Alonso signed a multi-year extension with Aston Martin several months ago. However, the Spaniard is still actively involved in F1 contract negotiations. The Double World Champion is working to get Gabriel Bortoleto on the grid next season. Bortoleto is part of Alonso’s A14 Management Agency, with the 43-year-old actively overseeing the youngster’s career.
Bortoleto is ready for F1, says Fernando Alonso
With over half of the Formula 2 season completed, Gabriel Bortoleto is second in the standings. Should he keep this position, Bortoleto would become the highest-finishing rookie in the series since Oscar Piastri.
For all the media focus on Kimi Antonelli, it goes without saying the Brazilian driver is putting together a brilliant season.
There is still a lot of uncertainty about who is leading the race to earn Audi’s next contract. Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley, both appointed to senior decision-making roles, have only just arrived.
It will take some time before their driver priorities are decided. However, Fernando Alonso has no doubts about Gabriel Bortoleto’s calibre:
“Gabriel has an extraordinary talent and is ready for big challenges, and Formula 1 is certainly the next step for Gabriel,” he told motorsport.com.
“[Bortoleto] is doing very well in Formula 2, but it is necessary to have the right moment to reach Formula 1.
“You can’t arrive too early, nor too late. You have to arrive at the right time.
“And arriving at the right time will be the biggest challenge Gabriel will have. But of course, there are possibilities.
“He is a driver that the teams are very attentive to. The drivers respect him. The teams also respect him and ask about him.
“And not just Audi, so I hope we find some option.”
Of course, other drivers are being considered for the remaining Sauber seat. Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu and Robert Shwartzman are understood to be on the team’s shortlist.
This means that Alonso and Bortoleto won’t have an easy time in contract negotiations.
With that said, momentum is clearly on Bortoleto’s side. The McLaren junior is an immensely impressive talent – capable of contributing to the Audi project from a competitive and commercial perspective.
