Gabriel Bortoleto’s inventory continues to rise after one other sensible drive on the Italian Grand Prix.
The Brazilian rookie outqualified his vastly skilled Sauber teammate Nico Hulkenberg for the sixth spherical in a row and scored factors for the fourth time in six races with a powerful run to eighth at Monza.
And Bortoleto’s exploits haven’t gone unnoticed, with Sky Sports activities F1 pitlane reporter Ted Kravitz stating that “all the highest groups are concerned with him”.
“Gabriel Bortoleto has underlined his coming star of Formulation 1 potential, and all the highest groups are concerned with him,” Kravitz mentioned on Ted’s Pocket book after final Sunday’s race.
“However he says he’s staying with Sauber and Audi to work on their thrilling challenge for the longer term by ending eighth immediately and changing qualifying efficiency.”
Bortoleto will stay with Sauber for the group’s transformation into the Audi works squad in 2026.
Gabriel Bortoleto tipped for Pink Bull
Three-time grand prix winner Johnny Herbert believes Pink Bull ought to think about signing Bortoleto over fellow rookie Isack Hadjar.
Hadjar can be having a formidable first F1 marketing campaign and is the favorite to interchange Yuki Tsunoda within the Pink Bull senior group subsequent 12 months.
However Herbert has outlined why he thinks Bortoleto could be the higher alternative.
“I might in all probability edge giving the Pink Bull seat to Bortoleto,” Herbert instructed Racing Tipster.
“He gained the F3 and F2 championships in consecutive years. However the actually optimistic factor in his favour, which is what Oscar has received with Mark Webber, is that he has Fernando Alonso as his supervisor.
“He may give him possibly that additional ingredient that permits him to maintain on bettering whereas Hadjar hasn’t received somebody like Fernando behind him. He’s having to work all of it out for himself.
“Bortoleto races towards Alonso, probably the greatest ever, and he’s gaining racing consciousness. Then they may have a chat about it after a race.
“That is why it offers him the sting however he is very spectacular, in a automotive that arguably is inferior to the RB.”
Earlier than the season began, Pink Bull advisor Helmut Marko induced a stir by referring to Bortoleto as solely a “B driver”.
