Max Verstappen shares sim secrets with Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of Monza as "Call of Duty" friendship emerges

Brazilian F1 rookie Gabriel Bortoleto has revealed how Max Verstappen has supported him throughout his debut season

Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto has opened up about his close relationship with Max Verstappen, revealing that the reigning champion has strongly supported him after he joined the grid at the beginning of this season. Not only have the two been playing Call of Duty together, but they have also been sharing simulator set-ups, which have helped the Sauber driver in recent races.

Speaking ahead of the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, Bortoleto detailed his close friendship with the reigning champion. The two drivers first connected in Formula 3 when they would play games, such as Call of Duty, together. Now, the two trade tips for their sim work, including for the upcoming race at Monza.

"Yeah, it was funny. We played some Call of Duty. That's how we spend the days, right? And it was good to just have fun and laugh a little bit," he said, before adding that the four-time champion knows a few select Portuguese words. "You should ask him the words he knows. It's very bad ones, so I cannot say it here. He loves to say them when it's not live," he smiled.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images

"We drive a lot together in the sim and we practise a lot. I would say this is always helpful, tracks he already knows, tips he gives about corners and things that I should be looking at. It's always very good, the tips he gives to me.

"I mean, [he's] a four-time world champ, so he achieved a lot in his career and I'm super glad to have someone like him being very helpful. Because sometimes I don't even ask, it's coming from him. And obviously you need to be curious, but it's very nice to have someone like this. And he has zero interest at the end of the day. He's not working with me in any sense and helping me a lot, so I'm grateful."

He was further pressed on whether Verstappen has taken him under his wing.

"He started helping me when I was in Formula 3 and we became good friends and I believe he likes me probably. So that's why. He wants to see me doing well in Formula 1. I always made it very clear that he's, for me, the top guy in Formula 1. And I really look after what he did and what he's doing in Formula 1.

"So I think probably he likes it. I don't know, you should probably ask him why he takes me under, I don't know the answer. Again, probably because he likes me and I try, I show him that I'm really into simulators and stuff that he likes and that I love as well and we do it together."

When asked about the possibility of them becoming team-mates as Sauber transitions to Audi for the 2026 regulations, Bortoleto was more than open to the idea.

"Maybe he comes to Audi one day, I don't know. I mean, as a friend and everything, we work very well together. He helps me a lot. I really believe he can be a very good team-mate in the sense of, when we get a team and bringing the team together, he didn't win four titles because he was lucky.

"He won it because he was in a team that when he got there, was not a world championship team, and then he built it up with them and made them win. So I believe maybe working together wouldn't be a bad thing. But again, if he comes to Audi one day, I'm happy where I am. And I am very glad with the project we have."

Verstappen's support for Bortoleto has been strong, with the driver advocating for the rookie during last year's Brazilian Grand Prix. “If I was Sauber I would have signed him already,” he said. “Especially if that’s anyway the future, you know, young drivers. And 2026, 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."

The Brazilian currently sits 18th in the drivers' standings after an impressive 2025 season so far. While his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg leads him by 23 points, he has shown considerable reliability and pace, regularly outqualifying the German.