Fernando Alonso reckons ‘it’s a matter of time’ before ‘incredible’ driver lands F1 seat

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Formula 1 has proven extremely difficult for young drivers to break into, especially those looking for promotions from Formula 2.

The 2024 season marked the first year in F1 history that the driver line-ups were the same as the end of the previous year, with no driver transfers or rookies entering the sport.

However, the 2025 campaign is set to change all of that, as the F1 ‘silly’ season has produced numerous switches among the teams, triggered by Lewis Hamilton’s shock move to Ferrari.

There have also been three confirmed rookies that will join the F1 grid next year, in Oliver Bearman for Haas, Jack Doohan for Alpine and Kimi Antonelli as Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes.

And there could yet be more new faces to join F1. Liam Lawson is due to replace Daniel Ricciardo at RB next year, while F2 championship contender Gabriel Bortoleto is being strongly linked with the vacant Sauber seat.

Fernando Alonso says ‘it’s a matter of time’ Gabriel Bortoleto reaches Formula 1

Speaking in the driver press conference before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso lauded the talent of Bortoleto as he rises through the ranks at a rapid rate.

Alonso signed the Brazilian to his management company in September 2022. Since then, Bortoleto has displayed serious talent, winning the Formula 3 title in his debut season.

Signing with the McLaren Driver Development Programme shortly after, Bortoleto finds himself in another title fight, as he sits 10.5 points behind Isack Hadjar in F2 with three rounds to go.

With his talent and hard work, Alonso believes it will not be long before Bortoleto makes the step to F1.

“He’s an incredible talent and a very humble person as well, which I think that’s the biggest thing that we need to work on,” he said.

“He’s a hard worker, apart from his talent, and I think that’s why in Formula 3 and Formula 2 [he] had this much progress. I think also he’s someone that is taking things very seriously as well, which at that age is never a guarantee.

“As we touched before on the budgets and things like that, he won the championship as a rookie in Formula 3, and he’s fighting for the championship as a rookie in Formula 2, but without the test of many other rookies. So he’s probably the only ‘rookie rookie’ in the championship.

“So this was an amazing achievement so far. And let’s see what the future brings. But, you know, it’s a matter of time that he gets to F1.”

Gabriel Bortoleto is heavily linked with Sauber for 2025

The Brazilian has emerged as the favourite for the vacant Sauber seat – which will subsequently be Audi in 2026 – with Bortoleto recently holding talks with Mattia Binotto.

Current drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are out of contract in 2024, and with Binotto eyeing Bortoleto and Theo Pourchaire for the second seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg, it seems unlikely either of them will be retained.

Being a McLaren junior driver, Bortoleto can either sign with Audi permanently or on loan if Sauber choose to sign him. Either way, his odds of joining the F1 grid for 2025 have gone up substantially in recent weeks.

Bortoleto’s home nation Brazil is desperate for him to join F1, as he will mark the first full-time Brazilian to race in F1 since Felipe Massa retired in 2017. The last Brazilian to compete in a race was Pietro Fittipaldi at the 2020 Sakhir and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.