Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso’s age is often referenced when speaking about his Formula 1 career and he may feel that’s unjust at times.
However, the 2025 F1 season will see Fernando Alonso come up against Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto who he currently manages.
Bortoleto isn’t the youngest new driver on the grid – that honour belongs to 18-year-old Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli – but it’s hard to ignore the different generations on the grid this year.
Alonso had been racing for Renault for nearly two full seasons when Bortoleto was born and was crowned world champion in the Sauber’s driver home country of Brazil before his first birthday.
It means that Alonso has a level of experience that will be invaluable to Bortoleto, although it’s hard to know just how much help he’ll be willing to help a potential rival.
Alonso has claimed that Bortoleto will be F1’s best rookie in 2025 and given his junior record, he’s got a chance to earn that accolade as long as it’s not judged on points.
Journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm was speaking on The Race F1 Podcast and explained why Alonso has been left so impressed by his mentoree.
Fernando Alonso impressed by Gabriel Bortoleto’s progress despite his lack of testing
Talking about the Aston Martin star and his protege, Mitchell-Malm said: “The thing that Fernando Alonso always says about Bortoleto, because obviously he’s in the management stable, he’s always said he’d be the only proper rookie in F1 this season.
“Which I think Alonso at the time was speaking either, well, first of all, we know the fact that whether it’s himself or his own, Fernando will always talk them up a little bit, but context be damned.
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“But I forgive him for not considering Isack Hadjar, who I would definitely put in the proper rookie category.
“But one of the things I think I’m right in saying Alonso is quite impressed by Bortoleto is I don’t know how similar it is to a Franco Colapinto type, but Alonso often talks about Bortoleto from the sense of he’s not been a prolific tester historically and this kind of thing.”
Mitchell-Malm goes on to say that he’s personally been really impressed by Bortoleto’s ‘mature’ approach to winning Formula 3 and Formula 2.
While other drivers do huge amounts of testing in various series, Bortoleto never got that kind of opportunity.
Gabriel Bortoleto needs to make up for lack of F1 preparations during pre-season testing
The rookies on the 2025 grid have varying levels of experience in Formula 1 cars, with Liam Lawson – if he’s considered a rookie – leading the way after taking part in 11 Grand Prix.
Oliver Bearman and Jack Doohan also made their debuts in 2024, while Antonelli has done thousands of kilometres of work in Mercedes TPC runs.
READ MORE: Who is 2025 Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto? Everything you need to know
That leaves Racing Bulls newbie Isack Hadjar and Bortoleto as the least experienced drivers, with both F2 graduates taking advantage of last year’s post-season test in Abu Dhabi.
Bortoleto did a brief F1 test with McLaren last year when his F2 campaign was going from strength to strength but never looked like a candidate to replace Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri.
The Brazilian has been in unfamiliar surroundings during pre-season, taking part in fitness exercises in the Swiss Alps.
The likes of Colapinto and Bearman both admitted last year that they needed to be in peak conditions for Formula 1 races.
Bortoleto will be well aware of that but will know that getting in the car and the simulator is going to be even more important before the first race in Australia.
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