Audi prospect Gabriel Bortoleto took a significant step in his Formula 1 ambitions last week, as the 19-year-old Brazilian got behind the wheel for his first F1 test, marking the beginning of what could be a bright future on the grid.
"No decision has been made yet," Audi's new overall F1 chief Mattia Binotto clarified at Monza, "but it won't take too long."
The former Ferrari chief revealed that Audi is still weighing up whether to bring in a youthful talent like Bortoleto or Theo Pourchaire, or stick with a more seasoned driver such as current Sauber team racer Valtteri Bottas.
"We are working on a long-term project," said Binotto, "but now we have to decide what is the best choice in the short term."
Should Audi decide to opt for Bortoleto, McLaren would need to agree to release the young driver, as he is currently part of their driver development program, having signed up at the end of last year.
Indeed, his first taste of F1 machinery came last week during a test in a two-year-old McLaren at the Red Bull Ring.
"I saw it as something that could happen at any moment since they have been preparing me since the end of last year to perform exactly this kind of function for them," Bortoleto commented.
"From the information I received from the team, they were very satisfied with the feedback I reported about the car, my behaviour on the track, and the performance improvement we accumulated throughout the day."
According to Auto Motor und Sport, Bortoleto's career is handled by Fernando Alonso's management group, "who do not deny contact with Audi."
Interestingly, Binotto openly mentioned Bortoleto's name while speaking to journalists at Monza recently, and the teenager was even seen having a conversation with Binotto on the Formula 2 grid at the same event.
