Max Verstappen has once again spoken about his relationship with the 2025 Formula 1 rookies, particularly Gabriel Bortoleto and Kimi Antonelli. Known as the “dad of the rookies,” Verstappen discussed his special friendship with Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto and offered his support for Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. After narrowly missing out on the 2025 championship by just two points, Verstappen emphasized that mistakes are simply part of the sport.
Speaking to Swiss newspaper Blick, the Dutch driver reflected on his good rapport with Bortoleto, noting how friendships in the F1 paddock can be complicated. During the interview, he also turned his attention to other rookies under his guidance, including Antonelli.
In the final races of the 2025 season, Antonelli faced significant criticism, some of which escalated into online threats and insults after he lost control of his car in Qatar. This incident allowed Lewis Hamilton to gain ground, ultimately winning his first drivers’ championship in Abu Dhabi by just two points over Verstappen. Many, including members of Red Bull, incorrectly blamed the 19-year-old for letting Lando Norris pass, rather than acknowledging it as a simple racing mistake.
Verstappen was the first to call on Red Bull to apologize to the young Italian driver for being unfairly blamed. The four-time world champion stressed that he was not angry and viewed the rookie’s mistake as a normal part of a debut season.
Verstappen backs Antonelli
“The more you win, the fewer drivers you can interact with in the paddock without issues,” Max Verstappen explained when discussing his relationship with the rookies, including Gabriel Bortoleto and Kimi Antonelli. “I have a particularly good relationship with Bortoleto because we’ve already done some simulator sessions for the same team. I’ve also helped him a bit in Formula 3 and Formula 2 in the past. Gabriel is a very grounded person.”
Turning to Antonelli’s error in Qatar, Max Verstappen firmly defended the Mercedes rookie. “Unfortunately, Kimi made a mistake in Qatar that ended up being decisive. But errors are part of our sport,” the Red Bull driver said. “Especially when you are pushing at the limit and have a faster car right behind you. It’s unfortunate that Kimi lost so much ground under pressure, but it happens. I’m not upset about it.”
Verstappen continued, praising Kimi Antonelli’s character and resilience. “He’s a good guy, and among the 2025 rookies, he has faced the most pressure in his role as a Mercedes driver. Drivers like Oliver Bearman, Isack Hadjar, or Gabriel Bortoleto certainly had it easier with less competitive cars,” the four-time world champion concluded.
As the grid prepares for the 2026 technical reset, Max Verstappen’s support for the new generation highlights a shift in paddock dynamics, where the established champion is willing to shield his younger rivals from the intense political heat of the title fight.
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