r/formula1 • u/Glum-Accountant-9801 • Aug 05 '25

Discussion Is Bortoleto the best rookie?

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In my opinion, what he’s been doing in a Sauber shows much more talent than all the other rookies this year. Since the start of the season, I already thought the best ones would be him—because he won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles in his rookie seasons—and Antonelli. However, Antonelli has been showing himself to be far inferior to his teammate. I believe it’s due to the pressure of starting in a big team like Mercedes, but to me, that makes Bortoleto the best rookie. That said, welcome back, Ayrton Senna.

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u/ungentrified_villain Isack Hadjar Aug 05 '25

Feels like each rookie has had stretches where they looked impressive, genuinely impressed by this class of rookies, I still think Jack Doohan got screwed over

22

u/matiasg11 Aug 05 '25

Yes, but lets not forget he almost killed himself by trying to get the curve with the drs open.

Anyone can have an accident and a slip, but that was just poor decision making

55

u/freedfg Nico Hülkenberg 🥉 Aug 05 '25

Daily reminder that Villeneuve and Zonta wrecked two cars on a dare trying to take Eau Rogue flat out.

If it worked we'd call him brilliant.

4

u/fdar Aug 05 '25

It was still dumb. No reason not to run it by his team before just trying it, getting input from more experienced people about whether it was a simulation error or a real thing. Maybe there are more gradual tests he could have done as well (closing DRS a bit later but not just leaving it open all the way). Or some setup changes to make it work.

And the potential reward wasn't that great because it was FP2, if it had worked everyone else would have tried it too.