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Fernando Alonso Defends Gabriel Bortoleto’s Performance Amidst Helmut Marko’s Critique in Australian Grand Prix

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 15, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
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Fernando Alonso Defends Gabriel Bortoleto’s Performance Amidst Helmut Marko’s Critique in Australian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Australian Grand Prix - Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia - March 13, 2025 Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso talks to Carlos Sainz Sr. at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit ahead of the Australian Grand Prix REUTERS/Tracey Nearmy

In a powerful retort to Red Bull’s senior advisor Helmut Marko, Formula 1 veteran Fernando Alonso boldly backed his protégé, Gabriel Bortoleto, who recently showcased an outstanding performance during the qualifying rounds of the Australian Grand Prix. Alonso, who manages Bortoleto through his A14 enterprise, believes that their “facts” speak louder than the criticisms thrown their way.

The Brazilian racer Bortoleto, with consecutive rookie title triumphs in both Formula 3 and F2 under his belt, entered F1 amidst a storm of mixed opinions. Marko, in a conversation with Servus TV, controversially relegated Bortoleto to the status of a ‘B driver’. Despite this, the Sauber driver let his prowess on the racetrack speak for itself during the Saturday qualifiers.

Bortoleto managed to secure a spot for himself in Q2 at the Albert Park circuit, outperforming his highly-esteemed one-lap specialist teammate Nico Hulkenberg, Mercedes novice Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Red Bull’s Liam Lawson. This feat was even more remarkable considering Bortoleto’s association with the less favored Sauber squad.

The critical comparison made by Marko was between Bortoleto and his F2 title competitor, Racing Bulls newcomer Isack Hadjar, whom Marko praised as an ‘A-level’ driver. Alonso, however, swiftly rebutted this judgement, acknowledging the immense talent of both drivers and implying a flaw in Marko’s assessment.

The Spanish veteran Alonso defended, “Helmut has the duty to protect his drivers, but the actual facts carry more weight than his words.” He speculated that Marko’s comments might be a reference to the previous year’s F2 competition between Isack and Gabriel, where both drivers displayed exceptional talent. “They both finished in the top two, underscoring their incredible talent and earning their places in F1, which is a promising sign. Let’s wait and see what the future holds,” added Alonso.

He expressed his hopes for both drivers to have long and successful careers, but was particularly proud of Bortoleto’s accomplishments, winning F3 and F2 in his rookie seasons.

Bortoleto’s initial reaction to Marko’s critique was mature and composed, stating that his track results will speak for themselves. He reinforced this sentiment after the qualifying rounds on Saturday, stating, “Perhaps he’ll examine today’s lap timing, but his opinion won’t change my life. I’ll prove him wrong over time.” He was hopeful that his performance on Saturday was the beginning of proving his doubters wrong.

Despite his commendable performance, Bortoleto didn’t manage to proceed beyond Q2, finishing 15th due to a costly error. Reflecting on his performance, he admitted, “I made a mistake in my lap, I pushed a little too hard on T4, and ended up running over the kerb a bit too much. It was a little risky.” Despite this, he was pleased with his Q1 performance and considered it a solid start to his F1 career.

Alonso’s robust defense of Bortoleto and the young driver’s formidable performance in the Australian Grand Prix qualifiers signal an exciting future for Formula 1. Will Bortoleto continue to defy expectations and prove his critics wrong? As Alonso suggests, only time will tell.

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