‘He’s a legend’… Junior formula champion admits he really looks up to ‘impressive’ Formula 1 driver

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Formula 3 champion Gabriel Bortoleto has admitted that he thinks Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso is an absolute legend.

Bortoleto was a special guest on the F1 Nation Podcast after an exciting race at Interlagos.

It’s been a rollercoaster of a season for Aston Martin fans this year.

After pre-season, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll must have been seriously excited about the machinery at their disposal.

Alonso took full advantage, recording six podium finishes in the first eight races of the season.

He came close to earning a first win in a decade at the start of the campaign, but Red Bull continued their dominance and the rest of the chasing pack caught up to them.

Aside from a podium in Zandvoort, it’s been a barren spell for the team and they now look set to finish fifth in the Constructors’ Championship.

However, Alonso’s drive in Sao Paulo was seriously impressive and Bortoleto has explained why he thinks the 42-year-old is a legend of the sport.

It’s an opinion many would share considering he’s won two world titles.

The fact that he made his debut in the sport 22 years ago and he’s still competing at the front of the grid is simply remarkable.

Bortoleto calls Alonso a legend

Asked about the Spanish driver, the F3 champion said: “He’s a legend, I’ve got nothing to add! I think Fernando [Alonso], it doesn’t what team, what position or whatever he is, he will always give his 100% and that’s what I most admire from him because last year was the same thing.

“I was here, not with McLaren, just with Fernando and he had a problem and, on the radio, it was like he was in P1 because he kept pushing, he was still motivating the team, it’s impressive because he always does this.

“And today was the same thing. When [Sergio] Perez everyone started to scream and everything, but I was sure that he would try to overtake him back.”

Alonso has been in the news recently after being linked with a move to Red Bull and retiring from the sport in the same week.

Bortoleto is right to think that Alonso is a Formula 1 legend and it’ll be interesting to see how long he races for before he decides to pack it in.

It wouldn’t even be a surprise at this stage if he was still in the sport when the young Brazilian is ready to step up onto the grid.

Alonso still has two races to concentrate on to maintain fourth in the championship.

It might be difficult to keep Lando Norris at bay considering the form he’s in but he will fancy his chances against Carlos Sainz.