Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has revealed that he advised Red Bull to “keep an eye” on Gabriel Bortoleto before he signed with Sauber for his F1 debut.

The Brazilian driver signed with the Swiss-based F1 team on the back of securing the Formula 2 Championship in 2024 and the Formula 3 Championship in 2023.

“I already said to the team before you even got to Formula 1, ‘keep an eye on Gabi.’ But now we’re all here, and let’s just see how it evolves,” Verstappen said of the young talent during an appearance on the Pelas Pistas podcast.

Verstappen, who is currently under contract with the Milton Keynes outfit until 2028, also discussed the possibility of partnering with Bortoleto in the future.

“First of all, I don’t even know how long I’m going to do myself. I have a contract until 2028, but after that, nothing is agreed on or what. I don’t even know myself,” he added.

“I just hope for Gabi that he gets an opportunity within the next three, four years to be really competitive in the front and fight for podiums and then, if that’s in the same team, even better, because that means that we are both fighting for the best positions.”

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Bortoleto currently sits 19th in the drivers’ standings with 19 points, with his best grand prix finish of the year being sixth place in the Hungarian Grand Prix. 

The Brazilian driver is currently partnered with Nico Hulkenberg, who recently helped him after a disappointing home race weekend when he suffered two crashes.

“He said one in 20, 20 years in Formula 1,” said Bortoleto of the advice from the German driver. “You’re going to have a lot of good and bad moments. I’ve had a lot of moments like that. It’s just going to strengthen you. He’s proud of what I’ve done this year. I’m going to keep going strong and the good moments will come.”

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