Formula 1: The rising star who could benefit from McLaren turmoil

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As a die-hard F1 fan with decades of racing passion under my belt, I must say this 2024 season has been nothing short of exhilarating! McLaren, once again, proving their mettle with the dynamic duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The fierce rivalry between these two young guns is reminiscent of Senna vs Prost, albeit in a less dramatic manner (yet).

2024 Formula 1 season saw McLaren team consistently among the frontrunners, thanks to the performances of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. These two drivers have demonstrated their competitiveness, often engaging in fierce battles against one another.

In a bid to clinch his maiden world title, the British racer is hot on the heels of Max Verstappen. However, his Australian teammate refuses to yield and insists on maintaining his own racing pace.

For the next few years, both drivers are bound by their contracts, but an escalating conflict within the team might cause one of them to leave prematurely. Meanwhile, McLaren’s “papaya rules” have been applied this season, but team leader Andrea Stella has hinted at using strategic team decisions during the remaining races to assist Norris in closing the gap with Verstappen in the championship standings.

Instead of playing a supporting role to Norris this season, Piastri believes he’s more than capable – almost to the point that it seems unfair for him to continue in such a position. Essentially, he aspires to avoid being in the same predicament as Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes or Sergio Perez at Red Bull last year. If internal disagreements escalate, one driver might significantly gain from the situation.

Gabriel Bortoleto appears to be next up

As a dedicated follower and admirer of Gabriel Bortoleto, it’s thrilling to see his meteoric rise within the motorsport world! Since joining the McLaren Driver Development Programme in 2023, he has been on an unstoppable journey. His triumph at last year’s Formula 3 championship is just one of the many milestones he’s achieved so far. This season, he’s not only maintaining but elevating his performance, positioning himself as a strong contender for the Formula 2 title!

Apart from being considered for Sauber’s second driver position alongside Nico Hulkenberg in the upcoming year, Bortoleto has also been granted permission by McLaren to discuss terms with Sauber. However, a return to McLaren is an option if they require his services again in the future.

This 19-year-old racer from Brazil has impressive skills and could soon be added to an elite group of drivers who have consecutively won both the Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships, a list that already includes Piastri, Charles Leclerc, and George Russell. Notably, his most outstanding achievement so far was at Monza just a few weekends back. Starting from the 22nd position, he managed to claim victory in the sprint race.

In 2025, it’s crucial to keep an eye on McLaren’s progress, as they might become even more formidable, leading to frequent rivalries between their drivers. This increased competition could potentially pave the way for Bortoleto to join McLaren in either 2026 or 2027. By then, he would likely have some Formula 1 experience under his belt, enabling him to be competitive right from the start.

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2024-09-14 13:32