Gabriel Bortoleto clinched the 2024 Formula 2 title in Abu Dhabi after a close battle with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar.
The pair went into the Abu Dhabi weekend separated by half a point, which grew only to four points after the Sprint race on the Saturday.
Everything was set up for a grand finale at the Yas Marina Circuit with the final race taking place just hours before the F1 season finale on Sunday morning. However, it was shortlived when Hadjar stalled off the line and effectively handed the title over to Bortoleto.
The Brazilian will make his debut with Sauber alongside Nico Hulkenberg next season, with Bortoleto highly rated by some drivers including Felipe Massa.
Bortoleto is managed by Massa’s former teammate Fernando Alonso, and the Spaniard has explained why he thinks the 20-year-old will be one to watch in 2025 when speaking to Motorsport Brazil.
Fernando Alonso thinks Gabriel Bortoleto is the ‘best’ F1 rookie in 2025
Bortoleto was originally part of the McLaren Driver Academy but was let go once they made a deal with Sauber to release him from this contract for the 2025 season.
His strong campaign in F2 this year has shown he is one of the stars of the future to watch in F1, bringing Brazilian talent back to the grid for the first time since Massa left in 2017.
Although Sauber has been the most uncompetitive team on the grid this season, Alonso expects Bortoleto to be one of the rookies to watch ahead of their switch to Audi in 2026.
“He is the best. I know we will have a lot of rookies next year, they are all great, but Gabriel is the best of them. He will not have the same car as the others, but don’t forget, he is better than all of them,” said Alonso.
Who will be F1’s top rookie in 2025?
F1 will see a record number of rookie drivers promoted from F2 next year, with Prema teammates Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli getting drivers in Ferrari and Mercedes respectively.
Hadjar remains a possibility of being promoted pending the outcome of crunch talks between Red Bull management over how to proceed with Sergio Perez, who is under pressure to leave the team after a disappointing season.
| Driver | Team |
| Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber |
| Jack Doohan | Alpine |
| Isack Hadjar | RB? |
Jack Doohan also makes a full-time step up to Alpine having tested with them extensively throughout 2024, with the team also giving him an early outing Abu Dhabi.
It is sure to be an interesting year for the rookies in F1, with them all vying to come out on top and earn places higher up the grid.
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