Bortoleto makes feelings clear: 'Do you see Verstappen being slow?'

The Belgian Grand Prix reignited the debate that first emerged at the start of the season before gradually fading following the latest rule tweaks. At Spa, several drivers were visibly slowing on the straights due to battery clipping, while the 2026 regulations have, more broadly, forced drivers to adopt a significantly different driving style compared to previous generations of Formula 1 cars.

Speaking to GPblog among other media ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Brazilian argued that motorsport should not revolve around a single driving style, insisting drivers should not spend their entire careers relying on techniques learned in karting.

Instead, he stressed the importance of being able to adapt to every situation, acknowledging there will inevitably be moments of frustration when things do not come naturally, but adding that overcoming those challenges is part of what makes motorsport enjoyable.

Asked whether fast drivers are still just as fast regardless of the regulations, Bortoleto dismissed the idea that the new generation of cars changed the competitive order. According to the Brazilian, drivers such as Verstappen, Hamilton, Leclerc and Norris remain among the benchmark drivers on the grid, arguing that elite talent always finds a way to adapt, regardless of the technical regulations.