Gabriel Bortoleto shares how learning from Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso changed his approach to F1

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Gabriel Bortoleto has been one of the most impressive rookies on the grid during his debut F1 campaign, and the Brazilian driver has detailed how watching Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso conduct themselves off track has helped him to refine his approach to F1.

The youngster has been highly complimentary of his mentors during his maiden season in F1 with Sauber, and he has surely benefited from being around two different world champions during it.

As a client of his management company, Bortoleto revealed the sacrifices that Alonso has made in order for the 21-year-old to get the best possible opportunities on his way to the pinnacle of single-seater motorsport.

The Dutchman is no different. Bortoleto highlighted how Verstappen has been helping him through the use of sim-racing. The four-time world champion regularly gives the Sauber star pointers at circuits he hasn’t previously raced at during his racing career.

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Gabriel Bortoleto shares how he has ‘learnt’ from watching Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso off track

In an exclusive interview with F1’s official site, Bortoleto was asked about how he has found having two of the best drivers on the grid in his corner as he has progressed during his maiden season in the sport.

The Sauber star replied, “When they’re off track, they do what they like at home, relax, and I think they recover their energy and they come to a new weekend ready for the next race.

“I’ve learnt from Fernando and Max, watching them and how they behave off track and everything. I think there’s always work to do. I still feel like I need to do a step in that sense.

“But I feel like I’m much more comfortable now going into the weekends, much more relaxed with my energy levels arriving on Sunday, still quite high and able to perform the best way I want.

“Maybe at the beginning of the season, I felt like I was getting a bit more exhausted before we even started [practice] because I was putting too much energy on Thursdays, and on Wednesdays.

“It could be so easy just to feel like you’ve got to go all in to prove yourself. But sometimes it’s [about] less and sometimes doing a bit less.”

Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley highlighted the incredible work ethic that Bortoleto possesses, citing the fact that the 20-year-old is utilising the simulator at every opportunity he can get.

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Gabriel Bortoleto also revealed how he is taking inspiration from Michael Schumacher during his rookie F1 season

Having been offered a seat in F1 following his title triumph in the 2024 Formula 2 championship, Bortoleto has gone from fighting for wins at most race weekends to fighting for points on a good day.

The change in track position is clearly something that would affect a young driver, and the Brazilian driver has revealed how he has adapted to it.

He said, “Well, it’s definitely something I’ve been learning. Obviously, there’s still the feeling of not fighting for wins; it’s a topic for me that I keep fighting because I truly believe I have the potential to do that.

“I just need maybe the opportunity to achieve that. Hopefully, we will do soon. We are working for that, but it’s part of a process.

“To be honest, yesterday I watched Schumacher’s Netflix series again. I’ve watched it many times already, but I like to re-watch things sometimes, and you see his progress with Ferrari when he joined and everything he developed with the team, and then winning the championship.

“I feel like it’s a bit of an inspiration in that sense for me to join Audi and have the project very clear ahead of me. I want to win titles with them one day, and I’m going to work for that every single day and night I can.”

He may get his chance sooner rather than later, due to the introduction of Sauber becoming a works team through Audi next season. The youngster is highly rated by the figures within the outfit, with one Audi chief highlighting how Bortoleto was the ‘perfect’ replacement for Valtteri Bottas.