Fernando Alonso signed a new contract with Aston Martin back in April, but the two-time world champion could still be a factor in the driver market through his company, A14 Management.
The agency is working with a host of young talents on the feeder series ladder, including Gabriel Bortoleto, who heads into the final four rounds of the Formula Two campaign in second place, 36 points behind championship leader and Red Bull prodigy Isack Hadjar.
However, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri going nowhere, Bortoleto has been forced to look elsewhere for an F1 opportunity. The 19-year-old’s break could come at Sauber, with new chief Mattia Binotto reportedly interested in snapping up the Brazilian starlet ahead of the Audi takeover in 2026.
Playing a role in the saga is Alonso, who is carefully managing the teenager’s career. In a recent interview with Motorsport Brazil, Bortoleto said: “These kinds of talks always take place, of course, during the summer break
“For my part, I can say that I am 100 per cent committed to my F2 season. I have a contract with McLaren, which has given me all the support this year. Finally, as you all know, my career is managed by A14 Management, which looks after my interests in the best possible way
Bortoleto does not, however, have a clean run to the second Sauber seat in 2025. Valtteri Bottas is fighting hard to remain in F1 next season and still has a handful of races to convince his current bosses that he is the right man to partner Nico Hulkenberg next year
