Fernando Alonso fears McLaren could ruin ‘unbelievable’ driver’s F1 career if one thing happens

Follow us on Google Discover

Fernando Alonso has had a turbulent relationship with McLaren over the years, and now fears the Woking team may be about to ruin another driver’s Formula 1 career.

The Spaniard and papaya crew have been a combined force in F1 twice thus far, with Alonso driving for McLaren in 2007 and from 2015 to 2018. His return to Woking in 2015 came as a rather big surprise, as well, given the fallout of Alonso’s time beside Lewis Hamilton in 2007.

McLaren brushed any remaining tension from a time which saw Alonso intentionally impede Hamilton in qualifying for the 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix under their carpet to welcome the two-time F1 champion back. But Alonso would go on to rue McLaren’s ‘GP2’ Honda engines.

Fernando Alonso fears Gabriel Bortoleto will be Felipe Drugovich 2.0 if Audi rejects a loan

Now, Alonso fears McLaren may hold the career Formula 2 title-contender Gabriel Bortoleto could have as a Formula 1 driver in their hands. McLaren are in talks with Audi about a loan deal that would see Bortoleto join Sauber in 2025, but those negotiations are at an impasse.

That is according to journalist Michael Schmidt, who reports that McLaren and also Williams have offered Audi/Sauber the chance to take Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto on loan. But as they want to retain ownership, Audi is saying no as it does not want to be a finishing school.

The threat of McLaren recalling Bortoleto from Audi after a two-year loan to replace Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri concerns the automotive giant, which takes Sauber over as a factory team in 2026. Audi may only sign Bortoleto to join Nico Hulkenberg if he is its works driver.

Alonso is fully aware of the state of McLaren and Audi/Sauber’s discussions about Bortoleto as the 19-year-old is managed by the Spaniard’s company, A14. The 43-year-old even fears Bortoleto risks being a Felipe Drugovich repeat if Audi rejects the loan offer from McLaren.

Fernando Alonso thinks Gabriel Bortoleto is ‘extremely promising’

Alonso knows Drugovich well as the 24-year-old has been a reserve and development driver for Aston Martin since the Brazilian won the 2022 Formula 2 title. Drugovich dominated the junior series that year to get the title by 101 points ahead of Sauber junior Theo Pourchaire.

Yet, despite dominating in Formula 2, Drugovich only returned to racing this year by joining Vector Sport in the European Le Mans Series. So, Alonso fears Bortoleto may face the same fate if Audi/Sauber reject McLaren’s loan offer with the Brazilian atop the F2 standings now.

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso’s life outside F1 from net worth to Cars 2

Bortoleto heads the 2024 Formula 2 Championship with just four races left with a 4.5-point lead over Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar. If he wins the title, the McLaren junior cannot return to F2. But McLaren have no room, with Norris and Piastri under contract until 2028 and 2026.

Alonso is a big believer in Bortoleto’s abilities and believes a future in Formula 1 is within his grasp. But McLaren own the Brazilian’s immediate future as part of their junior programme.

“Gabriel is simply a rookie with pure talent. He’s unbelievable,” Alonso has told Motorsport-Magazin. “His time in Formula 1 will come. We can’t take any shortcuts that could hinder the development of his talent.

“Sauber have to make a decision. Gabriel is extremely promising for everyone. There are never any problems with teams in Formula 1. Everything can be adjusted.”