Gabriel Bortoleto’s ascent in Formula 1 has been significantly influenced by Max Verstappen’s support, a relationship that became publicly noticeable throughout the 2023 racing season. Verstappen, the four-time Formula 1 world champion, not only advised Bortoleto on race strategies, such as recommending intermediate tyres just before the Australian Grand Prix start but also assisted him during qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix by offering a helpful slipstream. This backing, however, started well before Bortoleto’s debut in F1, extending back to their initial encounters and early communications.
The connection began in 2023, when Bortoleto was competing in Formula 3. Their bond quickly grew through shared interests like sim racing and video games, creating a supportive environment in which Verstappen offered valuable guidance. Bortoleto credits Verstappen for significantly aiding his journey into Formula 1 by providing advice and referring him to influential figures within the F1 paddock.
Bortoleto on Verstappen’s Influence and Admiration
Bortoleto expressed profound respect for Verstappen, equating him with legendary driver Ayrton Senna.
“For me, together with Ayrton Senna, he’s the best driver ever. I truly see Max as one of the best out there. I really admire the way he approaches racing, the understanding of racing that he has, his understanding of the car, and the patience he shows in everything he does. And I see him as an example of a driver I would like to become – in terms of his expertise in racing and everything.”
—Gabriel Bortoleto
The Brazilian recalled their initial interaction in 2017 when he first met Verstappen, which left a strong impression. At the time, Verstappen was still early in his F1 career but already gaining acclaim. Bortoleto described being nervous yet eager to meet him, having heard much praise from their common karting team, CRG. The photograph they took together that day later gained attention online, highlighting the start of a meaningful relationship.
Building a Connection Through Sim Racing
The pair’s relationship deepened as they shared time sim racing, a pastime both take seriously. Bortoleto admitted that he initially struggled with sim racing, which made him less enthusiastic about it. However, an experience at the Ferrari store in Milan, where he first tried a simulator, proved pivotal. His father’s encouragement motivated him to stop complaining and dedicate himself to improving in sim racing, recognizing its importance for his career development.
From those first tentative steps, Bortoleto grew passionate about sim racing, investing in his own simulator setup at home and practicing extensively. He described how sim racing became addictive and a crucial aspect of his training:
“So I started upgrading my sim and I became one of the best, I would say, at sim racing – for a real driver. Obviously, there are sim drivers who are better than me, because they are doing it every single moment of the day, and I don’t have that much time. But I just love doing it, and I spend a lot of my day sim racing.”
—Gabriel Bortoleto
This form of practice provides Bortoleto with the advantage of feeling as if he’s completed countless laps on new or familiar tracks before physically arriving there, helping his performance and adaptability. Additionally, sim racing offers a practical way to experiment with car setups, allowing Bortoleto to understand how adjustments might affect the vehicle’s behavior in real races.
Integration into Verstappen’s Professional Sim Team
Bortoleto’s involvement extends beyond personal practice. He became an ambassador for Team Redline, Verstappen’s professional sim racing outfit, in 2023 while still competing in Formula 3. His role primarily involves training alongside Verstappen and fellow sim racers, focusing on improving lap times and skill development rather than competing in formal events.
Although Verstappen and other team members engage in iRacing and endurance sim competitions, Bortoleto concentrates mostly on the F1 car in Assetto Corsa. He clarified that his participation does not include assisting with car setups, citing limited time and different gaming preferences as reasons:
“No, that’s not the job I do there. And I don’t have the time for that. Also, they mainly play iRacing and endurance races – different kinds of games from what I usually play. I drive the F1 car a lot, in Assetto Corsa, and occasionally do some iRacing in GT3 cars. When I play with the Team Redline guys, I try to set good lap times and we try to beat each other. But most of my time is spent in Assetto Corsa, driving the F1 car.”
—Gabriel Bortoleto
Bortoleto’s Standing in the Sim Racing Community
On his skill level within the sim racing world, Bortoleto considers himself among the top players for certain games, particularly Assetto Corsa with the F1 car. He rates himself as possibly within the top 10 globally, even top 5, depending on focus and dedication. In other sim racing titles, his ranking falls lower, reflecting varied expertise and time investment.
He elaborated on why Assetto Corsa is his preferred sim platform, highlighting its realistic tyre behavior and vehicle dynamics as key factors. While iRacing offers a more structured format resembling full race weekends, Assetto Corsa suits his training needs for honing driving skills through repeated laps. Bortoleto also noted a plan to return to iRacing to boost his rankings there:
“It depends on the game. In Assetto Corsa with the F1 car – which I focus on a lot – I’d say I’m top 10, maybe top 5. In other games, I’m maybe top 50 or top 100. It just depends on what I focus on. If I really focus on one game, I believe I can be in that range of the top 10. But it takes a lot of hours and dedication.”
“I play a lot of Assetto Corsa nowadays, because I feel like it’s the most realistic in terms of tyre behaviour and how the car behaves.”
“iRacing is amazing for racing. And you have qualifying and practice sessions, so it feels like a race weekend a bit. But Assetto Corsa is more about doing laps by yourself or with your friends. So not about racing, but more about practicing and honing your skills.”
“But I need to come back to iRacing a bit. I stepped away to focus more on F1 in Assetto, but I need to go back and focus a bit more on that to work on my ranking there.”
—Gabriel Bortoleto
Growing Importance of Verstappen’s Backing for Bortoleto’s Future
Jonathan Wheatley, Sauber’s team principal since taking over earlier in 2023, acknowledged Verstappen’s quiet but effective role in helping Bortoleto. According to Bortoleto, Wheatley was informed by Verstappen of the young driver’s potential prior to his move to Sauber. While Verstappen does not often discuss this publicly, his influence and endorsements have clearly opened doors for Bortoleto within Formula 1.
As a promising rookie, Bortoleto benefits from being part of a support network that includes Verstappen’s mentorship and connections with key figures in the sport. This backing enhances his development and establishes him as an emerging talent to watch in future F1 seasons.
Looking ahead, Verstappen’s guidance and Bortoleto’s dedication to both real racing and sim training suggest a strong foundation for success. Fans and analysts alike will be paying close attention to how this young Brazilian’s career unfolds, bolstered by the encouragement of one of the sport’s greatest champions.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Max Verstappen a millionaire?
A. As of December 2024, Celebrity Net Worth estimates Verstappen’s wealth to be around $200 million. His earnings come from endorsements, investments, and a high-paying Formula 1 salary. Before 2020, his salary was quite modest compared to the top drivers in F1.
Q. Did Max Verstappen apologize?
A. Christian Horner shared that Max Verstappen said sorry to the Red Bull team after colliding with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix. The clash caused Verstappen to fall from 5th to 10th place because he received a 10-second penalty.
Q. Who did Max Verstappen lose respect for?
A. Max Verstappen stated he “lost all respect” for George Russell following a stewards’ meeting in Qatar about a qualifying issue in Formula 1.
Q. Has Max Verstappen apologized to Lando Norris?
A. He doesn’t have to apologize. I’m not expecting one. I don’t believe an apology is necessary. I felt the racing was intense but fair, even if it got quite competitive. We talked about it, and we’re both ready to race again.
