Gabriel Bortoleto: Max has always supported me

      Max Verstappen, taking part in the Pelas Pistas podcast, said that he had advised Red Bull management to take an interest in Gabriel Bortoleto even before the Brazilian driver made his Formula 1 debut. In Las Vegas, the Sauber driver said that Max had supported him throughout his career and had indeed spoken about him to Red Bull.

      "It's great that Max said that, but it's no news that I have a very good relationship with him," says Gabriel Bortoleto. "Max has always supported me in the junior racing series, but at the same time he was realistic when talking to me.

      I never asked him to do anything for me. But I often asked him for advice on what decision to make about the future, which opportunity to take. I would usually ask him, 'What do you think? Where should I go next?' And Max helped me with that.

      I know he spoke to Red Bull about me, but I didn't know when that was or what exactly was discussed. So when I heard Max on the podcast, I thought, 'Oh, it's great that he did that back then.'

      Jonathan Wheatley has said many times that even before I had a contract, Max told him to pay attention to me. But I don't want to go into details; he'd better tell that story himself. But it was definitely very kind of Max."