Gabriel Bortoleto reveals the surprising sacrifice Fernando Alonso ‘always’ made to help him reach F1

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Gabriel Bortoleto is in a rather rare position, with the Sauber rookie racing against his agent and mentor in two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin.

The Brazilian and Spaniard represent two contrasting ends of the age scale of the 2025 grid, but they enjoy very close ties. Bortoleto is the fourth-youngest driver in the field at 20 years old, whereas Alonso is the eldest at 44. Alonso is even now the 55th-oldest driver in history.

Father Time has not caught the Oviedo native yet, as well, with Alonso’s £19m-a-year Aston Martin contract taking him through the 2026 F1 season. Bortoleto is also locked in for next year, after he signed a multi-year contract to help Sauber transform into Audi’s works team.

Audi took a punt on placing Bortoleto at Sauber for his rookie campaign in 2025 on the back of the Sao Paulo native winning the 2023 F3 and 2024 F2 titles in his rookie years. Also, Audi persuaded McLaren to release Bortoleto from his academy contract to join Sauber for 2025.

Gabriel Bortoleto admires Fernando Alonso for ‘sacrificing’ his time to help the Brazilian

Alonso has been by Bortoleto’s side throughout his rise in the F1 paddock, having signed the Brazilian gem to his A14 management company back in 2022. It marked the start of his rapid rise into F1, and Bortoleto has made sure he has capitalised on having Alonso’s ear to bend.

READ MORE: Who is 2025 Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto? Everything you need to know

With a fountain of knowledge like 2005 and 2006 F1 driver’s championship winner Alonso at his disposal, Bortoleto has regularly asked for his advice. Bortoleto feels it may even surprise some that Alonso has ‘always’ sacrificed his time to help the Sauber talent when he needs it.

Bortoleto told Motorsport.com: “Fernando came on board in mid-2022, and it was a very important step, a great added value. In 2023, I arrived in Formula 3 and raced in Formula 1 weekends for the first time.

“When I entered the circuit for the first time, I realised that I would be racing under the eyes of all the major Formula 1 teams. So, I asked Fernando for lots of advice on how to manage the race weekend, the pressure, the expectations and many other things.

“One might think that someone as busy as Alonso wouldn’t have time, but I can confirm that he always found it, perhaps sacrificing his breaks. And I find his willingness to help very admirable and, of course, a great added value.”

Gabriel Bortoleto is learning from Fernando Alonso on and off the Formula 1 track

Alonso believes Bortoleto is the “best rookie of his generation”, with the Sauber ace starting to show his talents more regularly on the Formula 1 grid. After going 10 rounds without any points, Bortoleto got P8 in the Austrian GP, P9 in the Belgian GP and P6 in the Hungarian GP.

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

Sauber also saw Bortoleto secure his best qualifying result to date in Hungary with P7 on his third Q3 appearance so far. The 20-year-old even now boasts more Q3 appearances in 2025 than Alonso’s Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll, who has only ranked in the top 10 twice.

The Hungarian GP also saw Bortoleto battle Alonso, to a point, after following his agent and mentor during the early laps while the Aston Martin veteran nursed his tyres. Jolyon Palmer feels Alonso did Bortoleto a “favour” in Hungary by showing him how to manage a race, too.