What is the friendship between Max Verstappen and Gabriel Bortoleto like from the perspective of the Brazilian rookie himself? The Sauber driver opens up about it, and immediately answers the question of how a potential title fight between the two would turn out. ‘I don’t think we would train together as often,’ concludes Bortoleto.
Gabriel Bortoleto is halfway through his first year in Formula 1, and has momentum on his side. The Brazilian scored points in four of the last six races, with his best result being a sixth place in Hungary. Bortoleto receives help and advice during his debut season from, among others, four-time world champion Max Verstappen. The two became friends thanks to a shared passion for sim racing.
Bortoleto shares in the Beyond the Grid podcast what he appreciates about the Dutchman. “He’s straightforward, not fake. He’s completely without a façade,” says the rookie. “The way he is in front of the cameras, that’s how he is outside as well. Maybe people don’t always see the good side of him, because he’s so direct that people sometimes portray him as a villain. But he’s not really like that. He has a very good heart, helps people and also me. He is just who he is.”
Title Fight
The friendship between Bortoleto and Verstappen began back in 2023, when the Brazilian was still racing in Formula 3. However, the Sauber driver expects that his relationship with Verstappen will change if Bortoleto competes for world titles in the future. “Max won’t give me any more tips when we get into a title fight,” the Brazilian thinks. “But that’s of course normal. I think we would still be respectful towards each other, but I don’t think we would train together as often.”
