Alonso Praises Rising Star Bortoleto After Austrian Duel

Rookie’s strong performance earns accolades from veteran driver.

Fernando Alonso lauded Gabriel Bortoleto of Kick Sauber after the young Brazilian secured his first Formula 1 points in Austria, following a captivating late-race battle, showcasing a blend of seasoned skill and emerging talent at Spielberg.

Close Call on the Last Lap

While Alonso was headed toward a seventh-place finish, Bortoleto, part of Alonso’s Driver Management program, surged from behind and nearly overtook Alonso on the final lap. The two drivers were the only ones to attempt a one-stop strategy in Austria; Bortoleto’s tires were 16 laps fresher, but the experienced Spanish champion defended aggressively.

Alonso’s experience paid off, although luck played a role, too. Race winner Lando Norris approached to take the checkered flag, requiring both drivers to yield to the McLaren, granting Alonso DRS and shortening their race by one lap.

A Heartwarming Moment

After securing P7, Alonso celebrated with Bortoleto, greeting him with a hug in parc ferme. This display of sportsmanship resonated, highlighting the supportive dynamic between the veteran and his mentee.

Alonso said of Bortoleto’s achievement: “Incredible, happy for him.”

He continued, “Gabi was outstanding the whole season, for one reason or another [Nico] Hulkenberg was then scoring the points on Sunday. But I think [Bortoleto] deserved maybe before this one to score already but I hope for him it is the first of many…The first points in Formula 1, they taste always very special.”

Strategic Success

Reflecting on his race, Alonso credited his team for their successful one-stop strategy, despite track temperatures reaching 50°C and high tire degradation. Tire degradation is a key factor in F1 races and can impact the outcome if not managed effectively (Pirelli, 2024).

“It was intense,” said Alonso. “Look, the first thing was the strategy. The team was right, the one-stop strategy was the one to go for today, it was the fastest as I was not as fast as the Kick Sauber or the Haas and I still finished in front of them.”

He added, “The one-stop was the right choice, good pit stop, good timing as well. And then at the end I got lucky as when Gabi came with a lot better pace, I had Norris with the blue flags so Gabi could not attack me on the last laps. And it meant the race was one lap shorter as, by letting Norris go, we saw the chequered flag so all in all, it was a perfect combo for us.”

Championship Standings

While Lance Stroll finished 14th, Alonso’s points helped Aston Martin close in on Haas in the Championship standings. They are now just one point behind as they head to Silverstone.