Gabriel Bortoleto says his friendship with Max Verstappen is shaping his second Formula 1 season with Audi, as both prepare for this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Austin.

The pair often race online, where Bortoleto quizzes Verstappen on how Red Bull evolved into a title-winning force and how that rigor translates to daily execution inside a team.

Bortoleto sits 15th on 10 points, in his first full season with Audi’s works entry. Team-mate Nico Hulkenberg has 13 points, leaving Audi eighth in the constructors’ standings.

Their conversations focus on Verstappen’s early Red Bull years, the demands that underpinned the climb to dominance, and how a driver shapes car development and operational priorities.

Bortoleto says they review his development, what he needs from Audi, and progress to date, often mid-race during gaming sessions that keep the tone light but the detail specific.

For Audi, in the first year of its full factory programme, that feedback loop matters. Translating driver feel into setup direction and upgrade priorities remains the season’s central challenge.

Red Bull’s repeatable processes set today’s benchmark, despite periodic off-track turbulence. Understanding that machine offers Bortoleto a useful reference as Audi calibrates expectations and timelines.

The exchange covers racecraft and tyre management as much as team logistics. Verstappen’s perspective on execution under pressure provides context Bortoleto can adapt rather than copy.

Bortoleto arrives well-credentialed, after the 2023 Formula 3 title and 2024 Formula 2 championship, but F1’s learning curve remains steep amid compressed practice and evolving tyre compounds.

He debuted with Sauber and continues through the brand’s transition to a full Audi identity in 2026, adding organisational change to the usual second-season refinement.

Verstappen’s broader programme, from sim work to GT outings such as Portimão, reinforces disciplined habits Bortoleto aims to emulate without losing his own driving identity.

Attention now turns to Austin, where Audi targets points and Red Bull seeks to continue its run, as outlined in the build-up to the United States Grand Prix.

For Bortoleto, maintaining that dialogue with Verstappen is less mentorship than calibration, aimed at accelerating Audi’s learning curve without mistaking shortcuts for solutions.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.