Fernando Alonso has come to the defense of his protégé, Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. The young Brazilian drove an excellent race during the recent Hungarian Grand Prix, ultimately crossing the finish line in sixth place. An impressive achievement, considering the competitiveness and status of Sauber. Yet, Bortoleto does not receive the attention he deserves, according to Alonso. He believes that if Gabi were English, he would be on every front page.
Gabriel Bortoleto scored points at the Hungaroring for the third time in four races – an impressive streak for a Sauber rookie. His sixth place was also the second-best result of the season for the Swiss team. Teammate Nico Hülkenberg finished on the podium in Great Britain with his bright green car. Despite his strong debut season, Bortoleto has received little spotlight, according to Fernando Alonso. Compared to rookies like Kimi Antonelli, Ollie Bearman, and Isack Hadjar, relatively little attention is paid to the Brazilian.
‘Best of his generation’
After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Alonso was asked about Bortoleto’s performance. The Spanish star immediately praised his 20-year-old protégé. Speaking to DAZN, he even called him ‘the best rookie of this generation’. Alonso then criticized the lack of media attention for the Sauber promise. This could possibly be due to his nationality, suggested the two-time world champion.
“If he had been English and finished sixth with a Sauber, he would have been on the front page of every newspaper,” said Alonso. Max Verstappen also raised this issue in 2024. The Dutchman was then embroiled in a title fight with Lando Norris and regularly had to deal with the whims of the British press. “I have the wrong passport,” he said at the time. Alonso’s praise for Bortoleto is hardly surprising: the Brazilian has been part of the Spaniard’s management company for several years.
