by Alex Johnston
As the second part of the season prepares to begin, I would be remiss if I didn’t given you all at least one ‘One to watch’ for the remainder of the year, and this time it’s Formula 2 rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto.
The Brazilian driver is currently second in the F2 standings after putting together a very consistent string of performances for Invicta Racing despite issues causing him to retire from three races in a row in the early stages of the season.
📸 Bortoleto is managed by Fernando Alonso’s A14 Management team.
The 19 year old stepped up to F2 after a championship winning rookie season in Formula 3 in 2023, somewhat dominating the season before being picked up by McLaren for their junior programme at the end of the season.
📸 Bortoleto in F3 action for Trident in Australia.
This firm impressed the Invicta team in F2 for whom he has now taken two poles, one win and three podiums, and is second behind Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar in the standings with four rounds/eight races yet to come in the series.
📸 Hadjar leads the championship, but Bortoleto leads the chasing pack.
Of late, he’s been linked with a huge move to F1 as the Sauber/Audi team seek to move someone into the second seat next to Nico Hulkenberg who has already been announced, but time will tell on that as several drivers including incumbent Valtteri Bottas, IndyCar linked Sauber Academy drivers Theo Pourchaire and Zane Maloney and more have had tenuous links to that drive.
📸 Could Bortoleto partner this man in F1 next year?
Time will only tell, but for Bortoleto it seems the only way is up just now.
📸 Image credits: Fox Sports, Formula Motorsport Limited, Invicta Racing.
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