Oscar Piastri Wonders if Gabriel Bortoleto Will Be Allowed on Fernando Alonso’s Jet After Near Collision in Jeddah

The Saudi Arabian GP was eventful throughout, with the midfield battle particularly feisty. On the very first lap, former AlphaTauri (now Racing Bulls) teammates Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda crashed out. But more scintillating battles were still to come. At one point during the 50-lap Grand Prix, Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto was locked in a defensive scrap with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson on the main straight.

In an attempt to defend, Bortoleto moved to the right—unaware that Fernando Alonso was almost alongside him, having been pulled into the fight by the double slipstream ahead. This led to a hairy moment between Bortoleto and Alonso.

The two-time world champion, who is also Bortoleto’s manager and mentor, was squeezed into the wall at the braking zone of Turn 1. Luckily for both, neither car sustained damage.

In the cool-down room after the race, the trio of Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, and Charles Leclerc squirmed at the replay of the incident. But race-winner Piastri saw it as the perfect moment to dish out some of his trademark Aussie humor.

Piastri said, “He [Bortoleto] might not have a private plane tonight anymore!” 

The Melbourne-born driver was referring to Bortoleto not being allowed to board the same flight as Alonso.

The 2024 F2 champion and Alonso have developed a close relationship with the Oviedo-born driver. In fact, after the Australian Grand Prix this year, Alonso did not read much into Bortoleto crashing out in tough conditions.

To top it all, he did not hesitate in calling the youngster “the best of the new generation – together with Ollie Bearman.” Alonso spoke about the interesting dynamic they share, that of his company representing Bortoleto as well as having to be his direct rival on the track on some occasions.

So despite all the insinuations, the relationship between Bortoleto and Alonso remained unscathed after that hairy moment.

“For us at A14 [Alonso’s management company], we feel extremely proud of the relationship. This year is going to be the first year he’s not winning, so we have to maybe accept that. But it’s part of his learning curve.

“For me, it’s a bit different. All the advice and insights I’ve given him over the past two years – it’s a bit strange now because I’m giving him the same, trying to help him as much as I can with experience of circuits , preparation, how to approach race weekends, marketing activities, the way to spend energy, save energy – all those kinds of things,” Alonso said in a FIA press conference.

While that was the serious and candid side of Alonso, he was sporting and witty in accepting that Bortoleto had a moment like that with him in Saudi Arabia on the track.

Speaking to ESPN, he quipped, “Maybe no dinner for him [on the flight home].”

Thankfully, as it turns out, Bortoleto did get a ride back home.