Max Verstappen helps Gabriel Bortoleto in several significant ways, rooted in a longstanding friendship that has grown over years. This year, Verstappen’s guidance became notably visible, especially before the Australian Grand Prix, when the four-time Formula 1 world champion advised the Sauber rookie to start the race on intermediate tires, a strategy that proved successful. Additionally, Verstappen provided Bortoleto with a beneficial slipstream during qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix.

However, Verstappen’s backing began long before Bortoleto reached Formula 1, illustrating a deep connection between the two. Their friendship dates back to when Bortoleto was still racing in Formula 3, and Verstappen was already a prominent figure in F1.

Early Bonding Through Shared Racing Interests

Bortoleto first met Max Verstappen in 2017, during Bortoleto’s karting days with the CRG team, which Verstappen had been associated with previously. Reflecting on that initial encounter, Bortoleto said,

“That was the first time I met Max, yes,”

recalling his excitement and admiration for Verstappen’s rapid ascent in Formula 1.

“I was shaking. Because he had been part of the karting team I raced for, CRG, and the guys there spoke very highly of him,”

he added, emphasizing how important that moment was for him.

Bortoleto shared how he admired Verstappen for his racing intelligence, patience, and expertise:

“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.”

How Sim Racing Sparked Their Connection

Their connection deepened in 2023 when Bortoleto was competing in Formula 3. The two started playing sim racing games together, which proved crucial in developing their bond. Bortoleto explained,

“I started to talk more often with Max when I was at the beginning of my season in F3. We started playing a lot of video games together – and sim racing,”

highlighting the camaraderie they built through this shared passion.

This relationship was more than just social; Verstappen actively supported Bortoleto’s progress by offering advice and facilitating introductions within the F1 paddock. Bortoleto noted,

“We created a very nice relationship where he helps me a lot. He helped me on my way to Formula 1 with a lot of tips and advice, and a lot of talking to people in the F1 paddock as well, about me.”

One of the key figures Verstappen connected Bortoleto with was Jonathan Wheatley, newly appointed team principal of Sauber, who previously served as the sporting director at Red Bull Racing. Bortoleto revealed,

“Jonathan always tells me Max rated me very highly to him before I came to Sauber/Audi,”

and further explained,

“I know Max doesn’t speak often about this, and he doesn’t speak about it in the media, that he helped me by talking to people in Formula 1 about me. But he was willing to help me, because he saw I was doing good results.”

Transforming a Weakness Into Strength in Sim Racing

Bortoleto’s introduction to sim racing was challenging at first. He candidly admitted,

“It’s funny, the history behind it, because I used to be really bad at sim racing,”

and shared how his initial experiences left him frustrated.

“When I started, I hated it, because I wasn’t any good. And when you’re not good at something, normally you’re not very passionate about it. Because you’re basically getting your ass kicked.”

His change in attitude came after his father’s hard but motivating words during a sim racing session in Milan at a Ferrari store. Bortoleto recalled,

“It was in Milan. I didn’t have a sim at home or anything. It was a Ferrari sim at the Ferrari store. I went there and gave it a go, and I was so off the pace compared to the top guys. And I remember my father looking at me and he was like: ‘Stop complaining and saying that the sim isn’t good. Instead of whining, be good at this. And you have a reason to become good: this is your sport. You should be the best in this.’ And since my father is my hero, I listened to him. I stopped complaining and saying ‘it’s not good’, ‘this doesn’t change anything in my life’ and ‘doing simulator is not realistic’. And I started practicing.”

This moment marked a turning point. Bortoleto purchased his first home simulator and became hooked on sim racing, dedicating a significant amount of his time to improving his skills.

“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.”

Sim Racing’s Crucial Role in On-Track Development

Now, sim racing is an essential part of Bortoleto’s preparation, allowing him to gain experience on new and familiar circuits before arriving in person.

“When you go to new tracks – or even ones you already know – it helps. When I arrive at a track, I feel like I’ve already done a thousand laps, just because of all the practice I did at home.”

Simulators also offer valuable insights into car setup, teaching him how adjustments can affect performance. Although the exact setup changes in Formula 1 cannot be applied directly in a sim, Bortoleto explained,

“You also learn a lot about car set-up. In the sim, you can change the set-up and try different things. Obviously, you can’t set up your actual F1 car in the sim, but you can learn a lot about what things you can change in the set-up, as they should change the same thing as in real life. So you can test things, like how the car will behave at certain tracks.”

Bortoleto’s Role Within Verstappen’s Professional Sim Team

In 2023, Bortoleto became an official ambassador for Team Redline, Verstappen’s professional sim racing outfit. He joined the team while still racing in Formula 3, describing his involvement:

“I joined in 2023, when I was still in F3. I was always talking and playing with the guys, but I officially joined them that year.”

Within Team Redline, Bortoleto primarily focuses on practicing sim racing with Verstappen and other drivers. However, he clarified that his participation does not involve assisting with real-world car setups. He said,

“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.”

Ranking Among Top Sim Racers Worldwide

Bortoleto considers himself among the highest skilled sim racers, especially in Assetto Corsa with the Formula 1 car. He estimated his standing:

“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.”

He explained the appeal of Assetto Corsa, focusing on its realistic tire behavior and car dynamics.

“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,”

he noted, contrasting it with iRacing, which he described as better suited for race weekend simulation with qualifying and practice.

Despite spending more time in Assetto Corsa recently, Bortoleto plans to return to iRacing to improve his ranking:

“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.”

The Broader Impact of Verstappen’s Support on Bortoleto’s Career

Max Verstappen’s mentorship and encouragement have played a crucial role in Gabriel Bortoleto’s progression into Formula 1, helping the Brazilian driver navigate both racing and professional environments. Their shared enthusiasm for sim racing forged a unique bond that extends beyond the track, enabling Bortoleto to improve his driving skills and gain valuable insight into the sport’s technical aspects. With support from Verstappen and connections like Jonathan Wheatley, Bortoleto has secured a promising position with Sauber in F1.

As Bortoleto continues to rise in his Formula 1 career, their relationship illustrates how peer mentorship and modern racing technologies like sim racing can shape the future of drivers. This foundation may well help Bortoleto realize the example set by Verstappen and establish himself as a leading talent in Formula 1.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Is Max Verstappen a millionaire?

A. As of December 2024, Celebrity Net Worth estimates Verstappen’s worth to be around $200 million. His income primarily comes from endorsements, investments, and a high-paying Formula 1 salary. Before 2020, his salary was relatively less compared to the top drivers in F1.