How Alonso and Bortoleto can be F1 rivals in a unique driver management deal

Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso – in his twenty second System 1 marketing campaign – continues to be encountering a brand new expertise. It’s not simply the six rookie racers on the 2025 grid. In Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, he’s racing his personal official protege.

Since 2023, Bortoleto has been part of Alonso’s A14 driver administration secure.

That is run by Albert Resclosa Coll and Alberto Fernandez Albilares together with the double F1 world champion, however in placing Bortoleto on the F1 grid, A14 has considered one of its shoppers truly racing towards its founder on the grandest stage in motorsport.

Within the trendy motorsport age, that’s a novel state of affairs. Subsequently, Autosport requested Alonso and Bortoleto to clarify precisely the way it will work if their respective inexperienced machines ever come shut on observe in 2025.

“I believe there are clear guidelines that I keep in entrance! That’s my understanding!” Alonso initially joked finally weekend’s Chinese language Grand Prix. “No, jokes apart, it’s nice to see Gabriel’s profession to this point. For us at A14, we really feel extraordinarily pleased with the connection.

“This 12 months goes to be the primary 12 months he’s not successful [after Bortoleto won the 2023 Formula 3 and 2024 Formula 2 championships as a rookie in each category], so we have now to perhaps settle for that.

“However it’s a part of his studying curve. For me, it’s a bit completely different. All the recommendation and insights I’ve given him over the previous two years – it’s a bit unusual now. As a result of I’m giving him the identical, attempting to assist him as a lot as I can with expertise of circuits, preparation, the best way to method race weekends, advertising and marketing actions, the way in which to spend vitality, save vitality – all these sorts of issues [now in F1 with me].

“I don’t suppose that is affecting any of the efficiency. On the finish of the day, we rely loads on our groups, our vehicles, and our packages.

“I don’t really feel like I’m making a gift of one thing magic and somebody will profit. I’m simply attempting to use widespread sense and assist him carry out when he places the helmet on, which is crucial a part of System 1. I believe it’s working high quality and can proceed to take action.”

Forward of the Australian GP season opener, Bortoleto sought out his supervisor’s recommendation on coping with his first expertise of wet-weather F1 competitors. He additionally mentioned tyre technique with Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen on the drivers’ parade in Melbourne.

However a easy concentrate on driving throughout the rising dry ‘tram traces’ was what Alonso emphasised. Ultimately, each drivers crashed out, with Bortoleto joking, “He informed me, “simply survive” after which each of us died!”

Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs

“Relating to the foundations, I’ve in my contract that I would like to offer him a slipstream each time I see him in quali!” the Brazilian additionally quipped within the Shanghai pre-event press convention, the place Alonso was fast to level how lengthy the again straight is on the Chinese language venue.

“He’s been excellent. He’s been capable of train me numerous this stuff – the best way to maximise my efficiency on observe by managing my efforts exterior of it. Issues like the best way to deal with the [early GP weekend] days right here, Thursdays and Fridays, to be targeted on what actually issues throughout the weekend. It’s been very good to this point.

“In Australia, we didn’t actually get to struggle one another correctly, however hopefully, in China, we are able to have some side-by-side battles. That may be good for me.

“I’ve watched him my entire life racing, and now racing towards him in System 1, with him additionally being my supervisor, it’s going to be very good. alternative.”

In the end, that hope didn’t come to move in Shanghai, with Alonso properly forward within the dash (though 13s behind Lance Stroll within the different AMR24) earlier than Bortoleto spun off early within the grand prix.

Alonso retired from that contest after simply 4 laps as a consequence of particles getting caught in his Aston’s braking system.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photographs

Autosport noticed the pair deep in commiserating dialog on one of many walkways over the large pond that homes most of the workforce hospitality buildings within the big Shanghai paddock. It has not been the beginning both needed to the 2025 marketing campaign.

And the look forward to the enjoyable stuff – a racing chapter on this distinctive relationship – for now goes on too…