Emerson Fittipaldi, Formula 1 World Champion in 1972 and 1974, recently gave an interview to Autosport, initially focusing on the immense talent of the Dutch driver Max Verstappen, who is a four-time World Champion, before turning his attention to a surprising rookie.
Max Verstappen: a top-class driver
“If I had a Formula 1 team and could hire anyone, then I would hire Max,” said Emerson Fittipaldi. “Max would be the first person I would hire. I believe he is a driver on a different level. Even when the car is not up to the task, he manages to push it forward with his own skill and determination.”
Unlike previous seasons, this year Red Bull does not have a car capable of consistently competing for first place. Nevertheless, Max Verstappen scored 184 of the 194 points that the team accumulated, placing third in the Drivers’ Championship.
Bortoleto: the surprising rookie
Honorable mention also goes to Gabriel Bortoleto, the Brazilian rookie and compatriot of Emerson Fittipaldi. The Sauber driver has shown signs of significant growth, managing to outperform his teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, in recent races.
“I think everyone was genuinely surprised, to be honest. The last race was exceptional when you consider where he was racing with that Sauber. I think he put in a fantastic performance, both in qualifying and in the race. It’s really impressive to watch,” said Fittipaldi, referring to the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Bortoleto finished sixth—his best result so far.
“I have known him since he started karting. He has always been a great driver, but I believe in Formula 1 he is now at the next level. And then, we must not forget Nico Hulkenberg. He is very fast; I think having strong references helps Gabriel a lot.”
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