David Coulthard tells Fernando Alonso how to teach Gabriel Bortoleto ‘a lesson’ after Saudi Arabian Grand Prix near miss

There was only one crash during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, but there could have quite easily been a second even more spectacular collision halfway through the race.

Fernando Alonso and Gabriel Bortoleto are two of the only four drivers yet to score a point this season.

The pair are at completely different stages of their career, as Alonso made his F1 debut in 2001 with Minardi before Bortoleto was born.

However, Alonso has played a key role in Bortoleto reaching F1, playing his part as the Brazilian’s manager to earn him a race seat with Sauber this season.

Before the season started, Alonso would have hoped that his Aston Martin would be quick not to have to race against the team who were rooted to the bottom of the constructors’ championship last season.

Unfortunately, Aston Martin have been dragged into that battle, and at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, it nearly ended Alonso and Bortoleto’s race after one misjudged move heading into turn one.

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

David Coulthard jokes about Fernando Alonso after Gabriel Bortoleto near miss

Covering on the race for Channel 4, former F1 driver David Coulthard joined Alex Jacques and Jolyon Palmer in the commentary box to describe all of the action in Jeddah.

As the action unfolded, Jacques said: “This is Liam Lawson, moving up to 15th place, and Bortoleto nearly gets clipped by the man who’s part of his management team! Fernando Alonso gets by as well, it was off the road, and Fernando Alonso will feather back and give the position up and it was nearly a more consequential collision between these two.”

Coulthard replied: “Yeah, I think Bortoleto just didn’t see Alonso coming. So, Alonso’s cat-like reaction enabling him to avoid an incident.

“I’m not really sure he needed to give that one back, well he did in terms of gaining an advantage, but he gained an advantage by avoiding a crash.”

Palmer added: “Bortoleto almost put him in the wall, he did well to judge the space.

“I think he was so funny trying to get back to the racing line to go and attack Lawson again.”

Coulthard then joked: “One feels that Fernando might add in an extra 5% on his management fee just to teach him a lesson!”

Palmer concluded: “He had no idea he was there did he? He’s come from the inside, he’s got mirrors full of Lawson, he’s not expecting the dark green of the Aston Martin on the outside.”

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

Lando Norris left in disbelief by Gabriel Bortoleto’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix strategy

When Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda crashed on the opening lap of the race, it brought out the safety car and left every team with an interesting strategy call to make.

Bortoleto was among the group of drivers who immediately switched the medium compound for hard tyres in the hope that they could run until the end of the race.

That’s exactly what the Brazilian did, although it didn’t help him make up any positions, as Jack Doohan pipped him on the line to finish last after starting from the back row of the grid.

Lando Norris was stunned when Bortoleto told him what strategy he used, but Sauber’s lack of pace left them with little option.

Bortoleto isn’t convinced by Sauber’s 2025 car, and while he’ll hope Alonso doesn’t take Coulthard’s advice and up his management fee, he might be hoping the Spaniard starts looking for an alternative seat on the grid for him after his rookie season.