The 2025 Components 1 championship has witnessed a major reshuffling of skilled drivers, with a number of established names making method for a wave of contemporary expertise wanting to make their mark within the sport.
Valtteri Bottas has shifted roles to change into Mercedes’ reserve driver, whereas Kevin Magnussen will transition to racing sports activities vehicles, and Zhou Guanyu’s future stays unsure after the affirmation of the 2025 grid’s 20 drivers. It is not uncommon for rookies to begin their careers with groups in the back of the grid, providing them an opportunity to study and develop.
Nevertheless, each Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Liam Lawson will embark on the 2025 Components 1 season with groups that, whereas not on the very prime, possess the potential to problem for podiums, together with on the Australian Grand Prix.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ staff principal, has been cautious in managing expectations for Antonelli as he steps into Components 1. Nonetheless, Wolff could privately harbor hopes that Antonelli may ship an surprising consequence at Albert Park.
Alongside Antonelli and Lawson, a bunch of promising rookies may even be part of the grid, together with Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar, and Gabriel Bortoleto. They’ll all participate within the pre-season testing in Bahrain subsequent month.
In an odd yr, the Components 2 champion would entice appreciable consideration upon arrival in Components 1, with drivers like Theo Pourchaire and Felipe Drugovich acknowledging the immense problem merely to safe a race seat. But, Gabriel Bortoleto’s transfer to Sauber has garnered much less consideration, notably exterior of Brazil. Bortoleto’s latest remarks upon arriving on the Sauber manufacturing facility have raised eyebrows, with many speculating that he is perhaps destined for a future at Ferrari.
Followers have been fast to attach Gabriel Bortoleto’s obvious affinity for Ferrari to his latest feedback. When requested about his favourite F1 circuit, he named Imola and confessed that Piratelli was his favourite nook. Then, when requested about his favourite colour, his response was fast: ‘Pink.’ This mix led followers to recommend that Bortoleto is perhaps positioning himself as a future Ferrari driver.
One fan remarked, “Pink, Imola, Italian surname… Ferrari is your future!” One other stated, “Ferrari!” with pleasure. Different followers echoed comparable ideas, with one suggesting, “Gabi digging for a spot at Ferrari,” whereas one other added, “Gabi already pitching to Ferrari!” One Gabriel Bortoleto supporter even famous, “The homie likes crimson like Ferrari?” and one other claimed, “However in between the traces, he stated Ferrari is the objective.”
Gabriel Bortoleto’s rise to Components 1 has been spectacular, however it’s flown beneath the radar for a lot of. Profitable back-to-back titles in each Components 3 and Components 2 is a rare achievement and sometimes alerts a powerful future in F1.
Drivers equivalent to George Russell, Charles Leclerc, and Oscar Piastri, who adopted comparable paths, have all gone on to attain success, with Leclerc beginning at Sauber earlier than becoming a member of Ferrari, and Russell spending three years at Williams earlier than transferring to Mercedes.
Gabriel Bortoleto could face challenges just like these of Leclerc and Russell, as Sauber is predicted to as soon as once more end on the backside of the Constructors’ Championship. Nevertheless, Bortoleto’s focus might be on getting as shut as potential to his skilled teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, and utilizing the consistency that received him the F2 title final yr to show his skill in Components 1.
Fernando Alonso, a seasoned determine within the sport, has expressed his perception that Gabriel Bortoleto has the potential to succeed. Nevertheless, Gabriel Bortoleto’s success could rely upon Audi’s impending takeover of Sauber, which may present the staff with the mandatory assets to change into extra aggressive.
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