The Mexican Grand Prix was a weekend of mixed fortunes for the Kick Sauber team. While Nico Hülkenberg’s race was cut short by a power unit issue, Gabriel Bortoleto climbed six positions to secure the last points-paying position at the chequered flag.
At over 2000 metres above sea level, tyre strategy is crucial. Speaking to Pelas Pistas Podcast, Bortoleto told the story of how Max Verstappen’s input influenced his tyre strategy. One that ultimately paid off.
Gabriel Bortoleto adjusted his tyre strategy after advice from Verstappen
Bortoleto qualified in sixteenth position ahead of the race, and accordingly, he devised a tyre strategy that would allow aggressive overtaking in the first laps of the race. The Brazilian admitted he planned to start the race on the softer compounds, but Max Verstappen had a different opinion:
“We went to have dinner the night before Mexico, and I came up with the idea in my mind I wanted to start on the soft […] because softer compound, I want to make some moves in Turn 1, and then [Verstappen] was like: ‘Don’t do that. You’re going to cook the tyres in five laps.'”
To everyone’s surprise, namely his brother and engineers, Bortoleto decided to follow Verstappen‘s strategy to start on the medium compound. A change of heart that allowed him to have the advantage of an offset tyre strategy, seeing that it was he and the Red Bull driver who were the only ones to start on a medium compound.
During the podcast, the Dutchman admitted to thinking that his tyre decision was either very smart or “incredibly stupid”. It turned out to be the former as both drivers survived the first long stint on medium compounds and were able to attack on the better, softer compounds for the second leg of the race. Not so “stupid” after all.
Bortoleto’s longstanding friendship with the four-time champion
It is no secret that Bortoleto and Verstappen have grown rather close throughout the years. While they initially met in 2007 at a karting race, it was not until 2023 – when the Brazilian was racing in Formula 3 – that the two bonded over their passion for sim-racing.
Since then, Bortoleto has been learning from the four-time World Champion, and he has previously shared the many ways Verstappen helped him before he reached F1:
Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken
“[Verstappen] helped me on my way to Formula 1 with a lot of tips and advice. I know Max doesn’t speak often about this, and he doesn’t speak about it in the media, that he helped me by talking to people in Formula 1 about me. He was willing to help me because he saw I was doing good results.”
The Red Bull driver has become a friend, an advisor, and a voice of reason for Bortoleto. The Dutchman’s guidance has made a difference in Mexico. Could everything Bortoleto is learning from the World Champion help him compete for the Championship in the future?
