P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has revealed that he previously urged Red Bull to “keep an eye” on his friend, Sauber’s Formula 1 rookie sensation Gabriel Bortoleto.
Max Verstappen urged Red Bull to keep an eye on his friend, F1 rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, who has made a strong start to his career at Sauber. Bortoleto, coming off winning the F2 title last year, has shown promising performances with five top 10 finishes this season. Verstappen and Bortoleto appeared together on a podcast, where Verstappen shared his advice to the team about his friend. Verstappen expressed hope for Bortoleto to race in a competitive car and potentially partner with him in the future. Speculation surrounds Bortoleto’s future teammate, with Isack Hadjar rumored to join Red Bull Racing. Former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has endorsed Bortoleto for a future drive at Ferrari, while Audi aims to be a frontrunner by 2030. Verstappen emphasized the importance of both drivers having the chance to compete at the front of the grid in the coming years.
