Gabriel Bortoleto considers Max Verstappen one of the greatest drivers of all time. The Sauber rookie, who was crowned Formula 2 champion last year, has formed a friendship with the Red Bull veteran this season – the pair are often spotted together in the paddock. As a proud Brazilian, Ayrton Senna remains untouchable for Bortoleto, although he believes Max Verstappen is cut from the same cloth.
Bortoleto finished ahead of Max Verstappen for the first time during the recent Hungarian Grand Prix. It was also his best ever result in Formula 1. Reportedly, the 20-year-old talent owes his place in the sport partly to the four-time world champion. Verstappen is said to have highly recommended him to former Red Bull director Jonathan Wheatley, the current team boss of Sauber.
In an interview with Brazilian TV Globo, Bortoleto was asked about his heroes in Formula 1. “My idol has always been Ayrton Senna,” he naturally responded. “He will always remain so. As a Brazilian, you grow up with the stories of this exceptional man, someone who was far ahead of his time. I don’t think there will ever be anyone like him.”
The Era of Max Verstappen
The young driver also emphasized the differences between modern Formula 1 and the era of Senna. “This generation, as well as the great drivers of the past, realize that we can do much more to optimize our driving behavior thanks to technological evolution. We are much more focused on details these days, as we have more resources to analyze them.”
However, according to Bortoleto, the current Formula 1 has also produced a great figure. He ranks reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton in the same category as Senna. “Max has the right driving style and uses telemetry to his advantage,” he explained. “His laps for pole position approach perfection. That’s why I put him on the same level as Senna. He is truly one of the best ever. How many people can say they have become a four-time world champion? Only a few drivers have been as dominant as he has. He absolutely belongs at the top – along with Senna, Hamilton, Schumacher, the guys who were truly exceptional.”
