Gabriel Bortoleto Reveals Max Verstappen’s Role in His F1 Path

Formula 1, Sportrik Media – Gabriel Bortoleto has revealed that his relationship with Max Verstappen played a crucial role in shaping his route to the Formula 1 grid, particularly when he was weighing up key career decisions in the junior categories.

Bortoleto won the Formula 3 title in 2024 before joining the McLaren junior programme as he stepped up to Formula 2. However, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both tied to long term contracts at McLaren, the Brazilian looked elsewhere for a direct route to Formula 1.

That search led him to sign with Sauber for the 2025 season after winning the Formula 2 championship, a move that placed him at the centre of the team’s transition into the Audi works project under the new regulations. Throughout that process, Bortoleto sought guidance from Verstappen, the four time world champion who had supported him since his early junior career.

“Our relationship is very good and it’s no secret. Max has always supported me since the junior categories,” Bortoleto said, explaining that Verstappen offered realistic and honest advice about which opportunities would best serve his long term career rather than pushing any particular agenda.

The pair recently appeared together on the Pelas Pistas podcast, where Verstappen revealed that he had encouraged Red Bull Racing to keep an eye on Bortoleto’s progress. That endorsement was also known to Audi team principal Jonathan Wheatley, who cited Verstappen’s comments as one of several factors that reinforced the decision to sign the young Brazilian.

As Sauber prepares to become Audi’s factory team, Bortoleto believes the trust and advice he has received from Verstappen will continue to be a valuable asset as he builds his Formula 1 career at https://sportrik.com/en.