A Formula 1 rookie has made a bold claim about who he considers the greatest driver in the sport’s history. And it is not seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton who gets the vote of Gabriel Bortoleto, who is in his first season with midfield outfit Sauber.

Instead, the 20-year-old Brazilian racer places Max Verstappen on the same pedestal as his compatriot, the legendary Ayrton Senna. Speaking to Motorsport.com, Bortoleto said: “For me, along with Ayrton Senna, he [Verstappen] is the best driver of all time.

“I really admire his way of approaching races, his way of understanding the sport, of understanding the car and the calmness with which he faces everything.”

Interestingly, Verstappen played a significant role in shaping Bortoleto’s career even before he joined Sauber, which will become the Audi works team from next year. The Dutch ace, who bonded with Bortoleto over video games, ensured that key figures in other teams were aware of the young Brazilian’s talent.

Bortoleto added: “We started playing video games and simulators together more and more. Since then, we’ve been in touch a lot and he helps me a lot. For example, he helped me a lot on my way to F1 by giving me a lot of advice and recommendations, and talking about me with people in the paddock.”

He also spoke of how Jonathan Wheatley, the Sauber team principal, had some encouraging words for a rising star in F1. “Jonathan told me that even before I joined Sauber-Audi, Max was very positive about me.

“I know Max doesn’t usually talk about this himself, especially in front of the media, but it’s something he helped me with – talking about me to people in F1. I was getting good results and he wanted to help me.”

Despite only notching up six points so far this season and being dubbed a “B-standard” driver by Red Bull adviser and young driver chief Helmut Marko, Bortoleto took that particular comment on the chin. He confidently stated: “I’ve seen that [quote] and I love challenges.

“I think, hearing that from Helmut, he is a guy that has put a lot of talents in Formula 1, and has put a lot of wrong talents already in F1, so you can see he got it right and wrong and, hopefully, I will prove him wrong with time.

“But nothing I can say now in the media would change his mind, just my results on track, and I’m sure I’m going to prove him wrong at some point and, hopefully, he will admit this when I prove him wrong.”