Fernando Alonso may be involved in Gabriel Bortoleto’s
management team, A14 Management, but he had very little influence on Sauber’s
decision to sign the Brazilian driver.
After months of speculation, Sauber announced
earlier this year that 20-year-old Bortoleto would partner Nico Hulkenberg next
season in an all-new line-up.
Gabriel Bortoleto is the first Fernando Alonso-managed
driver on the F1 grid
Two months ago as Sauber debated their line-up, the team
said to be deciding between Valtteri Bottas and Mick Schumacher, Alonso threw
Bortoleto’s name into the mix.
“Sauber has to make a decision,” he said. “Gabriel is
extremely promising for everyone.”
Going on to speak about the Brazilian’s “pure talent”,
Alonso said it would be imperative to get his driver into the right team where
he’d have time to find his feet as already he’d been facing immense pressure as
a Brazilian F1 driver.
“Brazil also has a lot of Formula 1 history and many great
drivers. But perhaps a little too much pressure,” Alonso said. “We have to give
Gabriel time. His time in Formula 1 will come. We must not take any shortcuts
that could hinder the development of his talent.
“He has to come to Formula 1 at the right time. Then he also
has to be in the right team and environment, combining the pressure and
motivation to get into Formula 1 with the right timing.”
Sauber met the criteria with 2025 expected to be a
transitional year before the Hinwil team is rebranded Audi.
But given Alonso’s influence on Bortoleto’s career, it begs
the question was the Aston Martin driver advocating for his man when he saw
Audi F1 chief Binotto in the F1 paddock?
“The answer,” Binotto told the media including PlanetF1.com,
“is very easy: Very little, if not nothing.
“I know very well Fernando from past experience. We met in
the paddock but he never influenced.
“He never tried really to come to me with a convincing
argument because I think what convinced me was Gabriel, nothing else. So no
with Fernando. Yes, I had one chat, but really, very, very little.”
Bortoleto’s signing marks the first A14 Management driver to
make it to the ranks of Formula 1 and the 20-year-old who was born three years
after Alonso made his F1 debut is looking forward to racing the double World
Champion.
“We always joke about it to be honest, because I was born,
he started racing in Formula 1, and now I’m getting there, I’m going drive with
him,” said Bortoleto.
“Hopefully we have a good time in F1 together. He has been
helping me, obviously, a lot in my journey, teaching me a lot of stuff and
supporting me.
“I think it will be very fun, and I will have good times
with him.”
Alonso founded A14 Management three years ago with the
intention of “selecting a small group of drivers from the world of karting, the
cradle of this sport, and ingraining them with the indispensable values needed
in order to achieve their goals.”
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