Verstappen advised Red Bull to keep an eye on Bortoleto.

      A Brazilian podcast has revealed one of the paddock's most surprising and authentic friendships - that between Max Verstappen and Gabriel Bortoleto. During their conversation on Pelas Pistas, the two shared anecdotes about their relationship, which developed well before Bortoleto made his Formula 1 debut, showcasing a side of Verstappen that contrasts with his intense on-track persona.

      Their initial encounter took place long before Bortoleto joined Sauber. Verstappen reminisced about standing in the pitlane in Monaco, observing junior drivers getting ready for an F4 race when a young Bortoleto unexpectedly jumped over the wall. "Max! Max! Max! Let’s take a picture!" the Brazilian called out just minutes before the formation lap, leaving Verstappen thinking, "This guy is crazy." Bortoleto confessed that he merely wanted some advice before starting from the front row, to which Verstappen responded bluntly: "Flat out." Bortoleto laughed, recalling, "Turn one, I crashed."

      In fact, their first meeting occurred even earlier during their karting days at Adria. "I was intrigued by this guy with long hair who was winning everything," Verstappen noted. "I went into the tent to say hello and asked for a photo." Bortoleto found it odd that a Formula 1 driver would ask him for a picture. "I was thrilled," he admitted.

      Since then, their relationship has deepened—they've shared slipstreams, chatted during driver parades, and raced together on simulators. Bortoleto commended Verstappen for treating him respectfully even before he reached F1. "Max has never been like the others," he remarked. "Ninety percent of drivers won’t acknowledge you unless you’re in F1. Max has always been helpful—not just to me, but look at the simulator guys."

      Their simulator duels are also part of their story. "At first, I spun out at every turn," Bortoleto shared. "Max was flawless." Verstappen humorously added, "Now we race together—but I handle the setups. He thinks he can do them better than me. Every time he nearly matches my time, he modifies something and ends up slower."

      Bortoleto described Verstappen as "a beast" behind the wheel but surprisingly kind off the track. "He’ll chat with fans for hours unless we pull him away." Verstappen dispelled the notion that he has an aversion to journalists. "I don’t want to waste energy. I give it my all in the car," he explained. "Becoming a father doesn’t slow you down—after a tough race, I go home, see my daughter smile, and forget everything."

      When asked about the potential of being teammates in the future, Verstappen remained open to the idea. "I take into account how someone conducts themselves off the track," he stated. "A driver pair can break apart due to what happens away from the cameras. Gabi is both hungry and humble, a fierce competitor on track and self-reflective off it. I've always advised my team to keep an eye on him. I hope he finds himself in a competitive car in a few years—and if we end up together, that would be even better."