Fernando Alonso has claimed new Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto is the best rookie on Formula 1’s 2025 grid.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli will make a highly-anticipated debut with Mercedes, Oliver Bearman and Jack Doohan will follow up on their 2024 cameos with full-time drives at Haas and Alpine respectively, while Bortoleto has been signed by Sauber alongside Nico Hulkenberg.
On top of this quartet, Isack Hadjar is in contention for an RB seat if Sergio Perez ends up leaving the Red Bull stable, with a decision expected this week.
All five drivers have a proven track record – Bearman won two Formula 4 championships and was a race winner in Formula 3 and Formula 2, while Doohan and Hadjar finished in the F2 standings’ top three. Antonelli is widely considered a generational talent, having taken four single-seater championships, although he finished only sixth in his maiden F2 season this year after an arduous jump straight from Formula Regional.
Yet they don’t come close to their Brazilian counterpart according to Alonso, whose A14 Management company runs the youngster’s career.
“He's the best,” the double Formula 1 world champion said, before pointing Bortoleto’s credentials out: “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.
“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].”
Bortoleto took only two wins in F2 this season – fewer than rivals Hadjar and Bearman, as many as Antonelli – but the Invicta racer was by far the most consistent driver in the championship.
He finished 21 of the last 22 races in the top 10, including the last seven in the top five, which was key to overcoming a 35.5-point deficit on Hadjar as the title race went down to the wire.
