F1 icon Emerson Fittipaldi has warned European drivers that Latin American drivers are "coming back strong" in the pinnacle of motorsport. Last season saw the introduction to F1 of Franco Colapinto, who replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams for the final nine races. He took the sport by storm, and has since been signed by Alpine as its third and reserve driver on a multi-year contract. In recent years, Sergio Perez had been F1's lone Latin American driver; however, the likes of Colapinto are expected to be back on the grid soon. Fittipaldi views the current F1 driver landscape as very positive for Latin America, and is hopeful of more arrivals in the coming years. "I think, for Latin America, it's very impressive," Fittipaldi told Talksport . "Because the last few years, Checo Perez from Mexico, and now Colapinto did well. "I think he needs to get more experience, but he's fast and has been very impressive since his Formula 1 debut. "And I hope the next few years we have more Latin America drivers, as long as the European drivers give us a little chance, we are coming back strong. "Just a warning for the European drivers," Fittipaldi joked.
Bortoleto arrival
Whilst, for now, Colapinto is on the bench at Alpine, Latin America will be represented by reigning F2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto. He has been signed on a multi-year deal by Stake F1, who will become Audi in 2026 when the new power unit regulations are introduced. Bortoleto is the first Brazilian F1 driver since Fittipaldi's son, Pietro, featured in the final two races of the 2020 season after Romain Grosjean suffered his horrifying crash in Bahrain. The two-time F1 champion is excited by Bortoleto's arrival and is expecting the team he has joined to quickly improve. "It will be great for us Brazilians to have a Brazilian [driver]," added the F1 icon. "Bortoleto is doing really well. "He's going to a team that's going to be, in my opinion, getting better every year, Sauber. Still Sauber this year, but '26 it will be Audi. "That means there's going to be a new dimension as a team. And we are very excited, but we need more Brazilians in F1 and Formula E."
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