Gabriel Bortoleto joked that his lifts to races with Fernando Alonso might dry up if more incidents like their near-collision in Jeddah happen more often.
The Brazilian rookie is managed by Alonso’s A14 company,
with the Spaniard a mentor figure for Bortoleto – a relationship that could
have been tested if their near-miss in Saudi Arabia had resulted in a
collision.
Gabriel Bortoleto: My lifts with Fernando Alonso depend
on if I give him a slipstream!
During the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Bortoleto’s move
across to the racing line while in battle with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson almost
took out Alonso, who was in close proximity on the outside, on the racing line.
Alonso was heard saying that Bortoleto had moved under
braking, but his stance had softened following the chequered flag as he joked
that his driver wouldn’t be “getting any dinner” on the plane back home –
Bortoleto shares a lift to the racetrack on a private jet with the two-time F1
World Champion.
Speaking to the media in Miami ahead of this weekend’s
race, Bortoleto laughed when asked about the atmosphere on the jet when the
pair flew home together from Saudi Arabia.
“He was just kidding!” Bortoleto told media, including
PlanetF1.com.
“He was all, ‘No dinner for you, no dessert,’ but it was
fine.
“He understood I didn’t see him and we didn’t collide. It
was just a scary moment there, but it was fine.”
Put to him that Alonso had seemed quite shocked by his
move across the track, Bortoleto said, “Yeah, he was shocked like any other
driver would be, if someone just closes the door. It happens.”
Asked whether he feared his lifts to races being taken
away if such an incident did result in something more serious, the Brazilian
rookie joked, “Let’s see if he allows me.
“[It probably depends on what happens in the two races],
exactly! It depends on if I give him a slipstream.”
Alonso was asked for his take on their potentially
awkward jet plane journey together, with the Spaniard joking that he had
allowed his driver a chance to eat.
“Yeah, we flew back,” he said.
.webp)
