It’s no wonder Fernando Alonso signed Bortoleto to his A14 Management stable in autumn of last year. The Brazilian hadn’t overwhelmed in Formula Regional, but as an F3 rookie he put in a dominant charge to the title for Trident, emerging with a lead in the standings from the first round that he would not relinquish for the rest of the season.
After winning the opening two feature races of the season, Bortoloto took a further four podiums and secured the crown following qualifying at Monza, with a healthy eventual margin of 45 points. His performance has earned him a place on the McLaren junior programme and a 2024 Formula 2 seat with Virtuosi.
Gabriel Bortoleto has thanked many people for their part in his F3 title fight; his Trident team, to his family, his coach, as well as good friend and 2022 F2 champion Felipe Drugovich. But one name stands out: that of Aston Martin Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso.
The two-time world champion has worked with Bortoleto since September 2022, when he was racing in the Formula Regional European Championship, and become a mentor to the 19-year-old. Bortoleto credits Alonso with giving him valuable advice, which was “very special”, throughout his title fight – including a lengthy WhatsApp voice message – and has previously said his dedication keeps him motivated to succeed.