Max Verstappen has revealed that he previously urged Red Bull to “keep an eye” on his friend, Sauber’s Formula 1 rookie sensation Gabriel Bortoleto.
The Brazilian has enjoyed an impressive start to his F1 career, scoring 19 points across five top 10 finishes for the Swiss squad.
Bortoleto was signed soon after taking the Formula 2 title last year, in what was his one and only season in the series after taking the Formula 3 title the year before.
His performances have placed him well amongst his fellow F2 graduates this year, and also has the 2026 season with Audi, alongside current team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, to look forward to.
Bortoleto has appeared to have struck a friendship with Verstappen, and the pair appeared together on the Pelas Pistas podcast, on which the Dutchman revealed his advice to the team about Bortoleto.
“I already said to the team before you [Bortoleto] even got to Formula 1, ‘keep an eye on Gabi.’
“But now we’re all here, and let’s just see how it evolves.”
Verstappen hopeful Bortoleto will have the chance to race a competitive car
Speculation still stands as to which driver will partner Verstappen at the Milton Keynes-based squad next season, with Racing Bulls driver – and Bortoleto’s F2 runner-up Isack Hadjar mooted to take the seat.
Bortoleto has impressed enough to see himself touted by former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone for a future drive at Ferrari, with Audi aiming to be at the front of the grid by 2030.
Asked whether he could see himself partnering Bortoleto at some time in the future, Verstappen stated his hope that he will soon be in a competitive car to prove his talent behind the wheel.
“I mean, first of all, I don’t even know how long I’m going to do myself, you know?” he said. “I have a contract until ’28, but after that, nothing is agreed on or what. I don’t even know myself.
“So I hope, let’s say, in general, I just hope for Gabi, that he gets an opportunity within the next three, four years, of course, to be really competitive in the front and fight for podiums and then, if that’s in the same team, I mean, even better, because that means that we are both fighting for the best positions.”
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