Piastri reflects on ‘personal pain’ in Bortoleto comparison

Oscar Piastri believes Gabriel Bortoleto deserves his seat in F1, leaning on his own experience of missing out on a drive after winning the FIA F3 and F2 titles back-to-back.

The Australian won the F3 championship with PREMA as a rookie in 2020, before repeating the same achievement in F2 the following year.

However, Alpine, where he was a member of its young driver academy, opted to retain both Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso for the 2022 F1 season, meaning Piastri had to spend the year on the sidelines.

It ultimately culminated in the infamous 'Piasco' saga and the 23-year-old heading to McLaren to partner Lando Norris.

Bortoleto, meanwhile, is well-positioned to replicate Piastri's feat. The Brazilian is currently four-and-a-half points clear of Isack Hadjar atop the F2 drivers' standings with just two rounds to go.

However, unlike the Piastri, the 20-year-old has already secured his F1 future. Regardless of what happens in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, he will line up alongside Nico Hulkenberg at Stake next season.

"He's been doing a very impressive job," Piastri told media including RacingNews365. "Obviously winning F3 as a rookie last year and now leading the championship in F2.

"From my point of view, when you're achieving those kind of results, you deserve to be in F1. And I have the personal experience of the pain of not getting a seat."

2026 advantage to 2025 debut

Speaking alongside Piastri, Max Verstappen was quick to point out perhaps the biggest advantage afforded to Bortoleto, who will not have to endure the year in waiting the Australian did.

With F1 ushering in a new swathe of power unit and chassis regulations for 2026 and beyond, the reigning F3 drivers' champion will have a year to bed into at Stake, which will become Audi when the re-worked F1 rulebook comes into force.

"2026, [there is a] big rule change," Verstappen added, pointed out before explaining the benefit of Bortoleto debuting the year prior.

"It's always good to get used to a team already for a year, make your mistakes here and there, get integrated well, understand the car a bit.

"You always feel much more prepared and comfortable when you then start in 2026."