Max Verstappen on the podium at COTA - Photo: Race Pictures

'Verstappen being in the title fight is already historical'

20:09, 23 Oct

Updated: 20:23, 23 Oct

byKada Sarkozi

Gabriel Bortoleto believes Max Verstappen being in the current title fight is already a historical achievement.

"He didn't have the best car or even the top three car for most of the parts of the year and he has been able to be in the title fight for this long."

- Gabriel Bortoleto on Max Verstappen

After the United State GP, Verstappen now only trails Oscar Piastri by 40 points in the standings.

Rookie Bortoleto believes it is one of the best comebacks in the history of the competition.

He said in Mexico City: "Well, there is not really much secret. I think what he's doing is incredible. It's one of the best comebacks of a championship, in my view, ever done in history.

"Let's see what he can achieve. I think he's been winning recently quite a lot. I think the McLarens have been strong, but not as strong as maybe the beginning of the year when they were 1-2 every race."

Gabriel Bortoleto and Max Verstappen - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

At the Circuit of the Americas, Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies commented that what Verstappen is doing is 'history in the making.'

Bortoleto agrees with that claim. "He didn't have the best car or even the top three car for most of the parts of the year and he has been able to be in the title fight for this long.

"And now that I think he has they found out some good stuff with the car and he's been able to put some good performance I believe it's already history."

Bortoleto shies away from putting percentage tag on Verstappen's chances

Over the past weeks, drivers and team bosses alike have been asked about what percentage does Verstappen have to win this year's title.

The Brazilian is against doing that. He continued: "Who would have expected that he would be fighting for the championship after they saw how McLaren started the year, for example.

"It's impossible to put percentage and I really think people should stop talking about it because no one will give you a right answer or a wrong answer. it will be only time that will tell you what's the truth."

The current drivers' standings

Position	Drivers	Points
P1	Oscar Piastri	346
P2	Lando Norris	332
P3	Max Verstappen	306

He concluded: "I'm not surprised that he has been able to do this, but I'm surprised that they have been able to evolve the car so much since summer break. That surprises me because it's not easy to do that, especially when you're already in a good level like they are."

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