Max Verstappen impresses in the paddock not only with his victories, but also as a mentor, as rookies Kimi Antonelli and Gabriel Bortoleto report.
Max Verstappen enjoys a reputation in the paddock not only as a four-time world champion, but also as a mentor to the next generation. This season’s newcomers, Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Gabriel Bortoleto, refer to the Red Bull star as the “father of the rookies.”
Both youngsters have already emphasized in the past how helpful Verstappen’s support has been for them in their first year. The connection between Verstappen and Bortoleto, who have been friends for a long time, is particularly close.
In an interview with Formula1.com, the Brazilian therefore highlights not only the support he receives from his family, but also from established drivers such as Verstappen.
“My whole family in Brazil supports me. It’s just great. They couldn’t travel often to see me this year, but at the races they did attend, it was always very nice. And you also get support from other drivers, for example Fernando Alonso, and Max has given quite a lot of support behind the scenes. So yes, it’s great,” said Bortoleto.
Antonelli: Verstappen a mentor to all rookies
Mercedes rookie Antonelli also benefited from Verstappen’s experience, especially after difficult moments off the track. After the Qatar Grand Prix, the Italian became the target of a wave of online hostility because Lando Norris had overtaken him late in the race due to a mistake.
The maneuver earned the Brit two extra championship points, while Verstappen took the win. In this situation, Antonelli received support from the reigning champion.
“Yes, he offered me his support. I think Max was very supportive of all the rookies. What do they call him? The father of the rookies. But it was great. Lewis Hamilton too, but to be honest, everyone seemed to welcome the fact that there were so many rookies at the start,“ Antonelli notes. The Mercedes driver also emphasizes how important this environment is, especially in the first season: ”They showed their support in their own way, and then of course my family was important too. I mean, my father was there throughout the season, and occasionally my whole family was there too. So it was great, and I think that’s exactly the kind of support you need, especially in your first Formula 1 season,” emphasizes the Mercedes driver.
In terms of sport, both Antonelli and Bortoleto can look ahead with optimism. Both drivers have fixed contracts for their second season in Formula 1. Antonelli will remain with Mercedes, while Bortoleto will continue his career with the future Audi works team, which competed as Sauber in 2025.