Fernando Alonso names former McLaren junior as the best rookie on the grid from the batch of 2025

Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso has selected his favorite rookie on the 2025 grid, and he believes that Gabriel Bortoleto will likely be the best among the four new drivers joining F1 in the 2025 season.

The 20-year-old Bortoleto clinched the F3 and F2 championships in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Backed by a management firm linked to Alonso, the young Brazilian progressed through karting and junior formula divisions before becoming a part of McLaren's Driver Development programme in 2023. Apart from open-wheel racing, he competed in Brazil's Stock Car Pro Series in 2022.

Despite winning fewer races than the Red Bull Racing junior driver Isack Hadjar, Bortoleto grabbed the 2024 F2 title by being consistent throughout the season. His performances caught the attention of the Kick Sauber team. As a result, the Sao Paulo-born racer has been offered a seat alongside Nico Hulkenberg in the 2025 F1 season.

This promotion to the pinnacle of motorsport has prompted Alonso to praise his protege.

"He's the best. He was, in his rookie season in F3, champion. He was, in his rookie season in F2, champion. I know there are a lot of talks about the young generation – a lot of rookies also next year, very talented all of them, but the best is Gabriel. He showed it on track with the same cars," he said about Gabriel Bortoleto (as reported by Autosport).

"Obviously next year he will maybe not have the same car as some of the rookies, but I hope people do not forget that he's better than them. He was and he will (be)." Alonso added.

Autosport shared Alonso's perspective on X. Here's a look at the post, captioned:

"Four rookies will be on the #F1 grid next season and Fernando Alonso believes Gabriel Bortoleto is the best of the lot!"

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"My progression through this season has been the best progression I had in my entire life as a driver" - Gabriel Bortoleto on winning the 2024 Formula 2 championship

McLaren's junior Gabriel Bortoleto won the 2024 Formula 2 drivers' championship. The 20-year-old expressed his feelings during a post-race media interaction after the Feature Race in Abu Dhabi.

"It has been a very long season, we have been through a lot of things since the beginning where we struggled a lot in Jeddah, Australia. Actually in Australia, (I had) a very big crash and the team never gave up, I never gave up as well and from that moment on I think we deserved every single point we achieved in this championship," Gabriel Bortoleto said (as reported by Motorsport Week).

"My progression through this season has been the best progression I had in my entire life as a driver. I’ve grown up so much personally and professionally as well, I’ve learned so much, I met a lot of new people in my life that I’m super grateful to have them as well that helped me to achieve this championship and I’m super proud of it," he added.

For the 2025 season, Bortoleto is set to debut as a Formula 1 driver with Kick Sauber. He has joined an elite club of drivers like Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri by winning the F3 and F2 championships in back-to-back seasons.