Gabriel Bortoleto is looking to gain insights from Max Verstappen at Red Bull during their gaming sessions.
Audi racer Gabriel Bortoleto and Red Bull's Max Verstappen share a close friendship beyond the world of Formula 1, frequently spotted competing together in online gaming sessions. Motorsport.com has confirmed that the Brazilian inquired about how Red Bull evolved into a championship-contending team, as he aims to implement these insights at Audi.
This marks Bortoleto's second year in the championship and his inaugural season with Audi as a full works team. He currently ranks 15th in the drivers' standings with 10 points, while Audi holds the eighth position in the constructors' standings, thanks to the contributions of him and teammate Nico Hulkenberg. In contrast, the German has accumulated 13 points.
"I frequently speak with Max," Bortoleto remarked. "Naturally, the specifics remain between us, but we often discuss my feelings, my development, my expectations from Audi, and our progress as a team. I pose questions to him regarding his experiences at Red Bull prior to clinching the world championship: what the environment was like, how the team operated."
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
These inquiries often arise during a sim race. “These are thoughts that sometimes pop into my head while we’re playing, so I ask him,” Bortoleto explained. He also noted that gaming serves as his escape: “I’m laughing, I’m enjoying myself, it’s not work.”
Bortoleto is in excellent form. He secured the Formula 3 championship in 2023 and the Formula 2 title in 2024, with Isack Hadjar as his nearest competitor and Kimi Antonelli finishing in sixth place. These achievements earned him a seat in F1 with Sauber before Audi took over for the 2026 season.
Bortoleto and Verstappen are set to return to the track at this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Austin.
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