Max Verstappen McLaren contract advice revealed: 'Many people don't know'

Gabriel Bortoleto has revealed the level of friendship he has developed with Max Verstappen over time, which he feels not too many people are aware of.

Bortoleto often waxed lyrical about the four-time F1 champion during his past rookie season in F1 with Sauber, explaining at times his admiration for the Red Bull driver and his achievements.

After meeting Verstappen in 2016, when Bortoleto was just 11 years old, and posing for a photograph with the Dutchman who had just been promoted to Red Bull, it was the spark that kindled a friendship that then blossomed over time as they continued to cross paths.

Over the years, Brazilian Bortoleto, now 21, has conceded to often turning to Verstappen to ask for advice, including the day of a pivotal moment in his junior career when he signed for McLaren.

"I have had a great friendship with Max for a long time already," said Bortoleto, speaking exclusively to RacingNews365.

"I believe it's exposed now in the media, because you guys see me with him, going around, sometimes doing some live streams, playing games and stuff.

"Obviously, we have got closer and closer in Formula 1 because we are racing together, and we spend a lot of time together, and he is a great guy.

"What many people don't know is that he has helped me so much throughout my career, even when I was in the junior formulas.

"I'm used to asking him a lot about things, even my own contracts, when I was still in the junior series. When I was about to sign for McLaren, I asked him for his opinion. When I was about to join Sauber, I also asked him about it.

"He has been involved, even if people don't really know about it, in a way that he has always been able to help me if I had any questions.

"He was not telling me what to do, but he was giving me his opinion about things on questions I asked him, and that's very nice of him because he doesn't really need to do that.

"But he has always been very nice and open with me. So we have created this thing, and it's cool. We have practised together in the sim, and he helps me a lot.

"Hopefully, I have helped him as well. I try to push him, but I definitely have a lot more to learn from him than him from me."

As to exactly how he was pushing a driver of Verstappen's calibre, Bortoleto replied: "Well, trying to make good lap times in the sim, trying to push him to do even better lap times.

"Also, racing against each other in the sim, fighting and understanding things, just practising together. I believe he probably learned something from it. At least there is a reason why he does it, right?"