Source:REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
[Saba Sports News] Spanish driver Fernando Alonso has confirmed that his protege Gabriel Bortoleto is in talks with the Audi team about a seat in the 2025 F1 season, with Audi expressing interest in the F2 star. In this year’s F2 season, Bortoleto has had an impressive rookie year and is currently second in the drivers’ standings, behind Red Bull Junior driver Isack Hadjar. Records show that Bortoleto signed with Alonso’s management company in 2022, becoming Alonso’s protégé. In 2023, Bortoleto won the F3 championship and then joined McLaren’s Young Driver Academy. After the Dutch F1 Grand Prix, Alonso was interviewed by Brazil’s Band TV, where he said that moving to F1 is Bortoleto’s “next step” and that he is ready for the challenge. Alonso also revealed that several F1 teams are interested in Bortoleto. Brazilian media noted that if Bortoleto makes it to F1, it would end the long wait for a full-time Brazilian driver in the sport. The last full-time Brazilian F1 driver was Felipe Massa, who drove for Williams in the 2017 season.