Bortoleto left in disbelief upon hearing about Verstappen’s win at Monza

Max Verstappen’s outstanding performance at Monza, capped by a commanding race win with a 20-second lead over the two McLarens, continues to be one of the main talking points even after the weekend.

Unlike last year, the Dutch driver managed to get his RB21 dialed in by opting for an extreme aerodynamic setup, as seen from the trimmed rear wing.

This, combined with the simulator work done in Milton Keynes between Friday and Saturday, allowed him to find the ideal balance and snatch pole position from Norris and Piastri.

While the gap between the two McLarens was extremely tight in qualifying, the race told a completely different story.

After overtaking Norris at Turn 1 in the opening laps, the four-time world champion quickly pulled away, showcasing a race pace that was untouchable for everyone else.

The Red Bull driver ultimately crossed the finish line with a 19-second lead over second-placed Norris and 21 seconds over Piastri, who came third after giving the position back to his teammate in a swap that Verstappen himself later commented on.

Verstappen’s performance at Monza left many in awe, including Nico Rosberg, who commented on Saturday after Verstappen secured pole: “We know he is one of the five greatest F1 drivers of all time. Drives like today just prove that. It’s unbelievable what he’s able to do.”

Among the Dutchman’s admirers was also Gabriel Bortoleto, who, upon hearing from his race engineer that his friend had won the race, reacted over the radio as follows: ''Holy s*it. Max won?''

"That's insane, this guy," he finally added, showing genuine disbelief upon hearing the news.