Although he was under contract with McLaren, Bortoleto saw his path to Formula 1 blocked by the established pairing of Norris and Piastri. After winning last year’s F2 title, the Brazilian signed a deal with Sauber, which will become Audi from next year.

As a guest on the Pelas Pistas podcast on the eve of the Interlagos GP, Max Verstappen, in full talent-scout mode, said: “I already said to the team before you even got to Formula 1, ‘keep an eye on Gabi. But now we’re all here, and let’s just see how it evolves.”

The real question, however, was: could Verstappen and Bortoleto ever form a pairing at Red Bull one day?

“First of all, I don’t even know how long I’m going to do myself.” the four-time world champion replied. “I have a contract until 2028, but after that, nothing is agreed on or what. I don’t even know myself.

In recent years, the Dutchman has gained significant popularity in Brazil, not only due to his relationship with the daughter of three-time world champion Kelly Piquet, but also because of his friendship with Bortoleto, who brought a Brazilian driver back to Formula 1 for the first time since Felipe Massa in 2017.

Until a few years ago, while locked in a title battle with Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen had not enjoyed the same warm reception from Brazilian fans—a scenario that has now completely changed.