Gabriel Bortoleto showed his manager Fernando Alonso can expect no favours from him when the pair meet on track.

Sauber’s rookie driver was quick to report Alonso for jumping the start in last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. However he preferred not to mention his manager by name.

Bortoleto lined up 13th on the grid, directly behind Alonso’s Aston Martin in 11th. When Oscar Piastri’s ninth-placed McLaren moved too soon, Alonso couldn’t help going with him, and also jumped the start.

Piastri’s crash then brought the Safety Car out, at which point Bortoleto checked his team had spotted Alonso’s jump start. “Did you guys spot something weird in the start with the cars ahead of me?” Bortoleto asked his race engineer Jose Manuel Lopez.

When Lopez told him they’d only seen the McLaren moving early, Bortoleto replied: “Okay. Have a better look again please.”

After a second look, Bortoleto’s team spotted Alonso’s early move. “Gabi, we are checking what you are saying and we know what you mean,” Lopez told him.

The stewards likely did not need Sauber or any of the other teams to alert them to Piastri and Alonso’s jump starts. Both were noted during the Safety Car period and the pair were given five-second time penalties.

Once the race restarted, Bortoleto swiftly passed Alonso. He went on to finish 11th.

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“You already know what I’m going to ask”
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber, Baku City Circuit, 2025Bortoleto didn’t want to waste his battery while passing his team mate

Later in the race Bortoleto was again quick to press his team when he wanted them to move the other Sauber out of his way. Bortoleto caught Nico Hulkenberg after pitting and was anxious not to waste vital energy in his battery when overtaking his team mate, and made sure his team passed the message on:

Lap: 30/51 BOR: 1’45.726 Lopez Ocon ahead is struggling, he doesn’t have DRS. Ahead of Ocon, Nico and Stroll. Bortoleto Nico and Stroll yet to pit? Lopez Yes. Lap: 33/51 BOR: 1’46.572 Lopez We need to be smart here. He will get DRS from the car ahead. I know you can do this. Bortoleto Let me know if he has DRS, man! Lopez He will not have DRS, he’s 1.1 from the car ahead, he will not have DRS. Lap: 34/51 BOR: 1’46.729 Lopez Bortoleto passes Ocon
Great job, mate. [State of charge] eight. Great job. Bortoleto Well, you already know what I’m going to ask, so… Lopez Yes, we’re looking at that. Get into DRS with him and should be done in the next long straight. Bortoleto I don’t want to use my battery so let me know. Lopez He’s aware of that. Do not use your battery.
Hulkenberg lets Bortoleto past into turn one Lap: 35/51 BOR: 1’46.106 Lopez Next one Stroll, 1.7, he is still yet to pit. He is on medium tyres, 34 laps old.

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2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
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