The call that saw Alpine lose Oscar Piastri to McLaren ahead of the 2023 season has become one of Formula 1’s more memorable missteps.
In an exclusive interview with F1 Oversteer, commentator Alex Jacques suggested that another driver on the grid could be on a similar path.
After winning F3 and F2, Piastri spent the whole of 2022 awaiting an Alpine seat. In the following season, Alonso’s departure opened a spot alongside Ocon, but it was too late. The Australian driver had made up his mind and declined it.
Now, he leads the drivers’ championship for McLaren heading into the summer break. Reflecting on how this season’s rookies have performed, Jacques drew parallels between Piastri’s path and Gabriel Bortoleto’s arrival at Sauber this year.
Alex Jacques backs Gabriel Bortoleto to have a great Formula 1 career after impressive Sauber start
Asked by F1 Oversteer to assess this year’s rookie class, Jacques said: “I think it’s really nice that they’ve all had an outstanding moment, haven’t they? Antonelli’s had the Sprint pole, and he’s had a tough rookie season, but Mercedes are slightly uncertain with their car.
“You’ve had Hadjar, just fantastic points-scoring run that he went on at the start of the year, very, very impressive after his tough start spinning out on the formation lap in Melbourne.
“But now, ever since he scored his first points, and ever since they updated that car in Spain, Bortoleto has been driving with real confidence.
“He could have scored points in Spain but got unlucky with the timing of the safety car there. He has exceeded expectations.
“You know a Formula 2 champion is going to be impressive because it’s equal machinery in Formula 2, and they’ve got to prove it with a team that has just 12 people that can work on the cars.
“You don’t get any accidental F2 champions. You’ve got to be a prestigious talent and you’ve got to have proven yourself up the ladder.
“So he’s back-to-back F3, F2 champion. I think most people expected him to be quietly put away by Hulkenberg over one lap, and then show what he did in F2, which was a very, very strong racecraft and a lot of capacity behind the wheel, which is what is displayed in the last couple of races.
“What I don’t think anyone expected was his rapid one-lap pace as well. So, for him to be so strong in both categories, up against a driver that everyone in the paddock rates so highly, if he can carry on, and there’s no reason to think he can’t, because Sauber scored in the last six races.
“So they’ve transformed their season. And I’m just so pleased he’s had the car to show what he’s capable of, because sometimes with F2 champions, they don’t always get their go immediately. They sometimes have to wait on the sidelines.
“If you think that Piastri had to wait a year before he got a chance in Formula 1, that seems ludicrous now, and Bortoleto’s getting a chance with a team where he can show his talent, and his talent might be even more, perhaps, than we expected.
“I covered his Formula 2 season last year and was mighty impressed with what he did then, including a last-to-first recovery drive at Monza, which I’d never seen before, and I covered that championship for 10 years.
“So we knew he was good. He might be great, and that’s been one of the nice things to see across the European season.”
Gabriel Bortoleto continues to go from strength to strength with Sauber
After losing Piastri, Alpine made the call to lean into their academy pipeline, but that has not gone as planned either.
Jack Doohan was given his shot at the end of 2024, but he has already been moved aside in favour of Williams loanee Franco Colapinto.
Not backing Piastri proved costly for Alpine, and Bortoleto might one day put McLaren in a similar position.
Alonso has praised Bortoleto’s performances this season, and the Brazilian delivered his best result yet by finishing sixth at the Hungarian Grand Prix, just behind his mentor.
Piastri has had a few digs at Alpine earlier in the year, but what stings more for them is that he has outscored them since joining Formula 1.
There is not a clear standout rising through Alpine’s ranks at the moment, and there is still no certainty over who will partner Pierre Gasly next season.
A lot of these issues could have been avoided if Piastri had a stronger contract in place when he first entered F1.
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