Fernando Alonso snubs Mercedes prodigy Kimi Antonelli to name ‘best’ rookie on 2025 grid
Fernando Alonso did not choose Mercedes's prodigy Kimi Antonelli as the best rookie for the upcoming season in Formula 1.
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Kimi Antonelli and Fernando Alonso (via IMAGO), Gabriel Bortoleto (via SBNation)
The 2025 season is set to welcome six rookies in different teams. The campaign will also put forth multiple personnel changes in various teams. As a result, it is set to put forth some exciting and interesting situations on the grid. Amidst the preparations, Fernando Alonso took the time to name the best rookie on the grid.
Gabriel Bortoleto is on a hot win streak after recently winning the Formula 2 championship in his debut year. Moreover, the Brazilian driver also won the F3 championship in his first year. Fernando Alonso is also the manager of Bortoleto as he is set to join the Formula 1 grid in the coming season with Sauber.
Alonso highlighted the notable achievements of Bortoleto ahead of his entry on the grid in 2025. The Asturian reckoned that all the drivers in the young generation were talented. However, the 20-year-old was the ‘best’ according to the 43-year-old. The veteran also declared that the Brazilian showcased his racecraft with the same car as his rivals in junior categories.
In his season as a rookie in F3 he was champion, and the same happened in F2. I know there’s a lot of talk about the young generation: they’re all very talented, but the best is Gabriel. He proved it on the track with the same car.
Fernando Alonso told formulapassion
Gabriel Bortoleto ‘was and will be’ better than his rivals in terms of performance
Gabriel Bortoleto is set to debut with Sauber during a very difficult time for the team as they only scored four points in the 2024 season. As a result, the Brazilian driver might not be able to be on par with the other rookies. Alonso highlighted that his protege wouldn’t have equal machinery as his rivals and hoped that people wouldn’t forget about his greatness. For the veteran, Bortoleto was and will be better than his competitors.
Obviously next year he won’t have the same car as some newcomers, but I hope people don’t forget that he’s better than them. He was and will be.
Fernando Alonso added
Formula 1 is continuing to grow in terms of competition and excitement. The entry of the younger generation will only help the sport to further propel its popularity. Hence, the 2025 season will be a spectacle for the fans and drivers alike, especially due to the massive changes planned by the different teams.
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Aditya Pandya
(1484 Articles Published)