Gabriel Bortoleto says racing Fernando Alonso feels “a bit different” after the pair went wheel-to-wheel during a late-race scrap in the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix.
Facing off against a two-time World Champion is a unique challenge in any context, but for Bortoleto, the dynamic carried an added complexity.
The Sauber driver secured his first points finish of the season with a strong showing at the Red Bull Ring, crossing the line eighth behind Alonso’s Aston Martin.
The result marked another step in the Swiss outfit’s resurgence following a slow start to the year and a recent points surge fueled by upgrades introduced over the last few races.
After a sluggish start to his rookie campaign, Bortoleto is now beginning to demonstrate the pace and racecraft that made him one of the most promising talents entering F1.
Guiding him through this formative year is Alonso, who has managed the Brazilian since September 2022 when Bortoleto joined Alonso’s management company, A14.
The pair share a close working relationship, with Alonso mentoring the young driver both on and off track.
Yet, their intense battle on track revealed how fiercely competitive they both remain – and just how “weird” it was for Bortoleto to race his boss.
“It felt a bit weird in the sense that obviously he’s my manager and it’s Fernando at the same time, a guy that I’ve been watching racing since I started racing and he was there already for many years,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“When you have the visor down and you’re fighting, you don’t think so much about who it is.
“Obviously it’s a bit different still, I’m not going to lie, but I gave everything.
“There are some things I could have done better probably to pass him there, but he did an amazing job on defending, fighting and placing the car in the right places with the blue flags as well. So yeah, it felt a bit different.”
Alonso reflects on close fight with Bortoleto
Alonso, reflecting on the race, echoed the competitive spirit between the two and offered his perspective on how the battle unfolded, particularly highlighting the crucial role of blue flags in the closing stages.
“It was good- I was lucky there with the blue flags – I think without the blue flags, I had no chance to keep him behind for another two or three corners,” he said.
“That was my maximum life available there, and then with the blue flags, I gained that extra half a lap.
“And then also thanks to the blue flag, it was the final lap of the race and we saw the chequered flag.
“So it was a good combination for me, but yeah, the fight was good. A couple of corners side by side, always with respect.
“And yeah, we drove a couple of times already like that in go-karts and in [the] simulator when we do sessions together and things like that.
“So it was a replica of that, and this time I crossed the line first, so that gives me some satisfaction.”
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