Gabriel Bortoleto just proved Max Verstappen was right all along with Austrian Grand Prix heroics

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Gabriel Bortoleto was one of the stars of qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday. He reached Q3 for the first time in his Formula 1 career and will start from eighth place.

Bortoleto had shown promise during practice by finishing all three sessions in the top 10. It was unclear if that pace would translate when the teams emptied the fuel tanks and turned up their engines.

But Bortoleto soon confirmed that his pace was genuine as he went fifth in Q1. He will line up alongside world champion Max Verstappen on Sunday.

To make his performance even more impressive, teammate Nico Hulkenberg will start last. The Brazilian is now just 7-6 down in the intra-team qualifying battle.

Max Verstappen has long been a big advocate of Sauber gem Gabriel Bortoleto

This was a breakout performance for Bortoleto, who won the F3 and F2 championships on his ascent to the top level. He emulated Oscar Piastri, George Russell and Charles Leclerc by achieving that feat.

Sauber have already compared Bortoleto to Leclerc because of the attitude he’s displaying behind the scenes. They gave the Monegasque his debut before he joined Ferrari.

The 20-year-old was one of the last drivers to earn a spot on the 2025 grid, with Sauber only confirming him in November. He displaced Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.

Speaking in Sao Paulo last season, Verstappen called for the Swiss outfit to snap Bortoleto up. He was part of McLaren’s academy roster, but there was clearly no room for him in Zak Brown’s team.

“If I was Sauber, I would have signed him already, especially if that’s the future, young drivers,” he said. “And ‘26, big rule change.

“It’s always good to get used to a team already for a year, make your mistakes here and there, get integrated well, understand the car a bit. You always feel much more prepared and comfortable when you then start in ’26.”

Gabriel Bortoleto has left Nico Hulkenberg shocked

It looks as if Verstappen was right to be excited about Bortoleto. He’s fallen under the radar this season while veteran teammate Hulkenberg has taken the glory.

Hulkenberg has scored all 20 points for an improving Sauber team. But Bortoleto has stacked up well against him, particularly over a single lap.

In a recent interview, Hulkenberg said the ‘clinical’ Bortoleto has shocked him in 2025. He also spoke highly of his dedication and admitted he was feeling the ‘heat’.

In his opinion, it’s a ‘matter of time’ before Bortoleto lands his first big result. He has an excellent opportunity to score his first points on Sunday.