Bortoleto: Alonso is exactly the same behind the scenes as he appears in the media

Gabriel Bortoleto says Fernando Alonso is exactly the same behind the scenes as he appears in the media. The Audi driver, managed by Alonso's A14 Management, praised the two-time champion for being straightforward and sarcastic on The Fast And The Curious podcast.

Why it matters:

Bortoleto is one of several young drivers managed by Alonso, and his progress at Audi is a direct reflection of Alonso's eye for talent.

The details:

• "He's very straightforward when he's in front of the cameras. He's like what he shows. One of his qualities is that he doesn't fake it," Bortoleto said.
• "I love that he's very sarcastic many times... It's so funny. I laugh so much about it."
• Bortoleto made his F1 debut in 2025 with Sauber before Audi took over the Swiss team this year.
• Alonso called Bortoleto "the best rookie of this generation" after his sixth-place finish at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Between the lines:

Alonso noted Bortoleto's results would get more attention "if he was English, or something." The Brazilian currently sits 14th in the standings with 10 points, ahead of teammate Nico Hulkenberg on seven.

What's next:

With Audi building its factory project, Bortoleto is emerging as a key figure for the team's long-term future under Alonso's guidance.