Max Verstappen in parc fermé after Monza win

Verstappen to Audi? 'Working together wouldn't be a bad thing'

14:05, 15 Sep

Updated: 15:24, 15 Sep

byNorberto Mujica

Gabriel Bortoleto says he would welcome Max Verstappen at Audi, particularly with the Dutchman's background of 'building Red Bull up' and 'making them win titles.'

Max Verstappen and Gabriel Bortoleto share friendship that stretches beyond F1. Photo: RacePictures

“He won it [four titles] because he was in a team that, when he got there, was not a world championship team, and then he built it up with them and made them win."

- Gabriel Bortoleto

Speaking during the Italian Grand Prix weekend, Bortoleto highlighted how helpful Verstappen has been in his bid to achieve F1 success. Emphasising the friendship between the two the Brazilian talent then dared to put out a potential team switch for the Dutchman in the future that would see both be teammates in Formula One.

“Maybe he comes to Audi one day, I don’t know!”, Bortoleto told GPblog.

“I mean, as a friend and everything, we work very well together. He helps me a lot," the Brazilian rookie continued. "I really believe he can be a very good teammate in the sense of, when we get a team and bring the team together, he didn’t win four titles because he was lucky.

“He won it because he was in a team that, when he got there, was not a world championship team, and then he built it up with them and made them win.

“So I believe maybe working together wouldn’t be a bad thing. But again, if he comes to Audi one day… I’m happy where I am. And I am very glad with the project we have,” Bortoleto concluded.

Max Verstappen celebrates win a-top Monza rostrum

Can reality mimic Bortoleto's imagination and see Verstappen go to Audi?

For Verstappen the deciding factor is performance. Should Red Bull fail to deliver a competitive car and prospects of future improvement as of 2026, then the Dutchman could well be on his way out of Red Bull Racing.

Sauber is set to transform into Audi's F1 works team in 2026, when the German manufacturer makes its long awaited debut in Formula One, which will also see drastic regulations changes than will encompass power units, chassis, aerodynamics, fuel and tyres, govern the pinnacle of motorsports.

Audi has been tipped to fight for titles, however, since 2030, ensuring the competitive benchmark, by COO and CTO Mattia Binotto. But this is two years after Verstappen's contract at Red Bull comes to an end in 2028, by which time the reigning F1 champion will have turned 32.

Will Verstappen even be in F1 by then? He's spoken about his desire to spend more time with family and friends and also exploring other racing series, which he did this weekend at the Nordschleife, not to mention the times he's complained about the length of the F1 calendar today. And what of Nico Hulkenberg, who is targetting race wins and titles with the German automaker?

Will Verstappen find himself at Audi one day? Vote in the poll below and let us know what you think in the comments!