P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Verstappen role in McLaren signing discussions unveiled
F1 star Gabriel Bortoleto has mentioned that Max Verstappen has been supportive in his contract negotiations with teams in the sport. Verstappen, who has been in F1 since 2015 and is considered an elder statesman at 28, has helped various young drivers entering F1 in recent years. Bortoleto, who won the 2024 F2 championship and joined Sauber in 2025, has had a close relationship with Verstappen since his F3 days. Verstappen has been a guiding figure for Bortoleto, assisting him even in his junior formula days and offering valuable insights on decisions like team contracts. Despite securing a long-term deal with Sauber, Bortoleto’s partnership with Verstappen and representation under Fernando Alonso’s A14 Management indicate a promising future in F1 for the Brazilian driver.
