Gabriel Bortoleto is the best rookie for 2025 according to his mentor

Andrea Kimi Antonelli will make his highly anticipated debut with Mercedes, while Oliver Bearman and Jack Doohan will continue their appearances in 2024 with full-time contracts at Haas and Alpine, respectively. Gabriel Bortoleto, on the other hand, has been recruited by Sauber alongside Nico Hülkenberg. Additionally, Isack Hadjar is in the running for a seat at Red Bull if Sergio Perez leaves the team, with a decision expected this week.

These five drivers have an impressive track record. Oliver Bearman won two Formula 4 championships and races in Formula 3 and Formula 2, while Jack Doohan and Isack Hadjar finished in the top 3 of the F2 standings. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who holds enormous potential, has claimed four titles in single-seaters, although he only finished sixth in his first F2 season, after a challenging direct transition from Regional Formula.

Alonso believes in Bortoleto

However, according to Fernando Alonso, none come close to the level of the Brazilian. The two-time world champion, whose company A14 Management manages the career of Gabriel Bortoleto, is adamant: I know there are a lot of discussions about the younger generation, many rookies next year as well, all very talented, but the best is Gabriel. He has proven it on the track with the same cars.

« Obviously, next year, he might not have the same car as some other rookies, but I hope people don’t forget that he is better than them. He has been and will remain so. »

Gabriel Bortoleto has only won two races in F2 this season, which is fewer than Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman, and the same as Kimi Antonelli, but the Invicta driver has been by far the most consistent in the championship.

He finished 21 of the last 22 races in the top 10, including the last seven in the top 5, which was essential to overcome a 35.5-point deficit to Isack Hadjar as the title fight went down to the wire.