Gabriel Bortoleto part of a generational shift in F1
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Gabriel Bortoleto signs autographs for fans at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Sauber’s signing of Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto means at least a fifth of the 20-driver Formula One grid will be starting a first full season in 2025, with a new wave of young talent coming up fast.
“We are currently witnessing a generational shift in Formula One, with young drivers immediately making an impact,” said Sauber chairman and Audi chief executive Gernot Dollner in a statement on Bortoleto’s arrival on Nov 6.
Bortoleto, 20, will be lining up against fellow rookies Kimi Antonelli (18), Oliver Bearman (19) and Jack Doohan (21) who have secured seats at Mercedes, Haas and Renault-owned Alpine respectively.
Liam Lawson (22), a replacement for Daniel Ricciardo (35) at RB this season, looks set to get the nod for a full-time seat, while Franco Colapinto (21) is another stand-in who has impressed for Williams.
If Sergio Perez (34) were to be dropped by Red Bull at the end of the season, despite the Mexican having a contract, then one could imagine a further shuffle with Colapinto securing a seat somewhere.
Red Bull also have French-Algerian F2 title contender Isack Hadjar (20) on their books.
The sport still has seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (39), double champion Fernando Alonso (43) and Nico Hulkenberg (37), but they are now outliers rather than leaders of any longevity trend.
The graduation of Formula Two youngsters is a change from past years, when some F2 champions failed to secure seats, but does not surprise those who keep a close watch on the junior ranks.
The success of Ferrari academy product Bearman, Red Bull junior driver Lawson and Colapinto – all of whom have scored points this season as replacement race drivers – has convinced those who might have had doubts.
“I know how great are those young drivers. I know Ollie very well and he was part of our driver academy and I knew that Ollie could do very well in F1,” said Sauber boss and former Ferrari principal Mattia Binotto.
“I think yes, they are all doing very well and that’s great. I think it’s great for the sport, it’s great for F1.”
Formula Two has always been a proving ground for young talent but the surprising thing this time is that the drivers making the move up have not all been making headlines by winning.
Mercedes will replace Hamilton with Antonelli, but the Italian is currently only sixth in the F2 standings. Colapinto is seventh and Bearman 15th, although both have missed races.
One important thing for most is that they already have close relationships with teams, coming through driver academy pipelines, and are trained and tested with maturity beyond their years.
REUTERS
