Gabriel Bortoleto explains the great importance of Fernando Alonso in his career

Just two years ago, Gabriel Bortoleto finished in a discreet 6th place for his second season in FRECA and it seemed unimaginable at the time to think that he would be among the twenty drivers of Formula 1 from 2025. But the Brazilian has had two magnificent seasons in Formula 3, in 2023, then in Formula 2 last year, winning two titles in two years, a feat not achieved since Oscar piastri, crowned in 2020 and 2021 in both categories.

Bortoleto's feat is all the more impressive given that his career could have taken a completely different turn in 2022 without the help of a certain Fernando Alonso, who came to the rescue of the then 18-year-old, who was riding with his FA Racing team in his first year in FRECA in 2021. “We had so many problems in 2022. Nobody was following us back then.” rewind the Sauber driver. “It was just me and my dad and I didn’t have the opportunity to go to F3. We didn’t know how difficult it was to get a place in F3. In July we still thought we had time and then I started hearing that PREMA was full, Trident was almost full and I thought maybe we should start pushing to get a place.”

ALSO READ > Aston Martin to back out in 2025? Alonso remains confident: “The AMR25 is a step forward”

Bortoleto and Alonso have a "very good relationship"

"It's not easy, you have to find sponsors to get there. My father then went running at Red Bull Ring with friends. He met Fernando and his friends. Fernando knew who I was since I was racing for his team in FRECA. I got some very good results for the team, like the first podium, the first front row. The double world champion then offered to take him under his wing within the management agency A14, which the young Gabriel Bortoleto accepted. “We both wanted to be together, me with a good management team and them with a confidence in a young driver who could potentially do good results in the future. They called Trident and it was pretty crazy. It all went really well. We signed, we won the championship. It was a really good time.”

The Brazilian will now reunite with his mentor on the Formula 1 grid, four years after racing for his team in FRECA. The two men, who are 19 years apart, have a "very good relationship" according to Bortoleto, who says “very grateful for all the advice” brought by the most capped driver in the history of the discipline. “It’s good to have him by my side.” assures the new teammate of Nico Hulkenberg at Sauber. It remains to be seen whether Fernando Alonso will continue to give advice to his protégé if Aston Martin and Sauber find themselves in battle this season…

ALSO READ > Why did Gabriel Bortoleto choose to wear number 5 in F1?