How Alonso and Bortoleto can be F1 rivals in a unique driver management deal

Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso – in his 22nd Formula 1 campaign – is still encountering a new experience. It’s not just the six rookie racers on the 2025 grid. In Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, he’s racing his own official protege.

Since 2023, Bortoleto has been a part of Alonso’s A14 driver management stable.

This is run by Albert Resclosa Coll and Alberto Fernandez Albilares along with the double F1 world champion, but in putting Bortoleto on the F1 grid, A14 has one of its clients actually racing against its founder on the grandest stage in motorsport.

In the modern motorsport age, that’s a unique situation. Therefore, Autosport asked Alonso and Bortoleto to explain exactly how it will work if their respective green machines ever come close on track in 2025.

“I think there are clear rules that I stay in front! That’s my understanding!” Alonso initially joked at last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix. “No, jokes aside, it’s great to see Gabriel’s career so far. For us at A14, we feel extremely proud of the relationship.

“This year is going to be the first year he’s not winning [after Bortoleto won the 2023 Formula 3 and 2024 Formula 2 championships as a rookie in each category], so we have to maybe accept that.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

“But it’s part of his learning curve. For me, it’s a bit different. All the advice and insights I’ve given him over the past two years – it’s a bit strange now. Because I’m giving him the same, trying to help him as much as I can with experience of circuits, preparation, how to approach race weekends, marketing activities, the way to spend energy, save energy – all those kinds of things [now in F1 with me].

“I don’t think this is affecting any of the performance. At the end of the day, we rely a lot on our teams, our cars, and our packages.

“I don’t feel like I’m giving away something magic and someone will benefit. I’m just trying to apply common sense and help him perform when he puts the helmet on, which is the most important part of Formula 1. I think it’s working fine and will continue to do so.”

Ahead of the Australian GP season opener, Bortoleto sought out his manager’s advice on dealing with his first experience of wet-weather F1 competition. He also discussed tyre strategy with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on the drivers’ parade in Melbourne.

But a simple focus on driving within the emerging dry ‘tram lines’ was what Alonso emphasised. In the end, both drivers crashed out, with Bortoleto joking, “He told me, “just survive” and then both of us died!”

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

“Regarding the rules, I have in my contract that I need to give him a slipstream every time I see him in quali!” the Brazilian also quipped in the Shanghai pre-event press conference, where Alonso was quick to point how long the back straight is at the Chinese venue.

“He’s been very good. He’s been able to teach me a lot of these things – how to maximise my performance on track by managing my efforts outside of it. Things like how to handle the [early GP weekend] days here, Thursdays and Fridays, to be focused on what really matters during the weekend. It’s been very nice so far.

“In Australia, we didn’t really get to fight each other properly, but hopefully, in China, we can have some side-by-side battles. That would be nice for me.

“I’ve watched him my whole life racing, and now racing against him in Formula 1, with him also being my manager, it’s going to be very nice. A good opportunity.”

Ultimately, that hope did not come to pass in Shanghai, with Alonso well ahead in the sprint (although 13s behind Lance Stroll in the other AMR24) before Bortoleto spun off early in the grand prix.

Alonso retired from that contest after just four laps due to debris getting stuck in his Aston’s braking system.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

Autosport spotted the pair deep in commiserating conversation on one of the walkways over the giant pond that houses many of the team hospitality buildings in the huge Shanghai paddock. It has not been the start either wanted to the 2025 campaign.

And the wait for the fun stuff – a racing chapter in this unique relationship – for now goes on too…