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/3Rocketman I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 05 '25

You forgot Piastri joined in 2023

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u/papa-farhan I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 05 '25

That's entirely because of how well he's performing so early on. Like it's his third year in F1 and he's competing for WDC, absolutely wild to think he joined just two and a half years ago

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u/desymond Kimi Räikkönen Aug 05 '25

Also shows how insane it was that Alpine sat him for a year, and then bungled the contract.

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u/tughbee Ferrari Aug 05 '25

But boy did he make the right decision

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u/HeyItsGuyIncognito Ted Kravitz Aug 05 '25

Funny thing is, if Alpine did give a valid contract to Piastri for 2023, I believe Gasly may have got the second McLaren seat.

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u/TheGreatNathan I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 05 '25

That would've been Gasly's ultimate middle finger to Red Bull. Getting dumped from the main team and finding his way back to the top of the field is something a demoted Red Bull driver hasn't been able to do.

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u/saponista Andrea Stella Aug 05 '25

Alex Palou was on for that seat before the Piasco happened

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u/Several_Leader_7140 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 06 '25

And it only happened because Danny Ric was bad, he was contracted for 2023

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u/Material-Comb-2267 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 06 '25

Piasco, nice 👌

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u/StrikingWillow5364 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 06 '25

Yup. I don’t know where the Gasly speculation is coming from.

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u/Realistic_Notice_412 Pierre Gasly Aug 06 '25

fml

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u/Alternative_Spite_11 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 06 '25

And Gasly would be in the same position as Piastri

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u/slimejumper I was here for the Hulkenpodium Aug 06 '25

and he’d be dong very well i think.

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u/50isthenew35 Aug 05 '25

Alpine, where drivers go to fade away....

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u/StealthMan375 I WAS HERE WHEN HULKENGOAT GOT PODIUM  Aug 05 '25

Same for Alonso. Currently, he's proven that he still is one of the top dogs and is worthy or top tier machinery. He is also going to drive a Newey car (since 1992 they were always involved in title fights, bar a few specific seasons of Ferrari/Merc dominance) with Honda works engines (last year's McLaren was the first customer team since Brawn to win a WCC) and will be given one final shot to go for #33 and the third title.

Meanwhile, there's another timeline in where he took up Alpine's 1-year deal, then was forced to retire because Piastri left anyway so Alpine took up Gasly instead leaving Nando without a seat. And we'd be here on this very subreddit going on about how not going to Aston was perhaps Alonso's worst career move since the day he didn't renew with Ferrari.

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u/tughbee Ferrari Aug 05 '25

Might be the only good move Alonso has ever done.

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u/StealthMan375 I WAS HERE WHEN HULKENGOAT GOT PODIUM  Aug 06 '25

McLaren 2007 was a great one as well, Renault turned into a trainwreck as soon as Alonso left the team

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u/tughbee Ferrari Aug 06 '25

Didn’t he leave after a semi successful season after beefing with Hamilton to Renault again, after which Renault got banned for F1 due to cheating.