Gabriel Bortoleto is “the best rookie of this generation” according to Fernando Alonso, after the Brazilian fought he and Max Verstappen on his way to a career-best sixth place in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Sauber has delivered a clear step forward with the upgrades it introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix, culminating in the team scoring points in each of the last six rounds. All of Bortoleto’s points have come in the past four races, and in Hungary he joined fellow rookies Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson in securing a top six finish this year.
“He’s the best rookie of this generation,” Alonso – who also serves as part of Bortoleto’s management – told Spanish broadcaster DAZN. “If he were English or something like that and finished sixth in a Sauber, he’d be on the front page of every newspaper.”
On Sunday in Budapest, Bortoleto spent the first stint between Alonso and Verstappen, going on to beat the Red Bull in his best finish to date.
“Two-times world champ, four-times world champ and I’m in the middle,” Bortoleto said. “It’s just something amazing that I’m so glad to experience already in my rookie se ason and be fighting against these guys. Honestly, I’m so happy. It was a great race and we did everything we could.