F1 expert Ted Kravitz claimed that every top teams was looking to sign the same driver after the Italian Grand Prix.
The Italian GP saw Max Verstappen claim his first race victory since May’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and just his third of the 2025 season.
Verstappen prevailed in a thrilling duel with Lando Norris in the race’s first four laps, before ultimately claiming victory at a canter.
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Elsewhere, Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto finished an impressive eighth in the general classification, and according to Kravitz, the Brazilian 20-year-old has become among the most sought after drivers.
Speaking on Ted’s Notebook, Kravitz said: “Gabriel Bortoleto has underlined his coming star of Formula 1 potential, and all the top teams are interested in him.
“But, he says he’s staying with Sauber and Audi to work on their exciting project for the future by finishing eighth today and converting a good qualifying performance.
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“[Nico] Hulkenberg was a did not start; it was a hydraulic failure, the team could see it on the telemetry, and they decided to, well, they said that they had to box and retire the car because otherwise it’s going to break down.
“It’s going to hurt the engine, and we need that engine for the rest of the season. There was no choice, they had to do it to Nico Hulkenberg.”
Bortoleto registered his third points score in his last four races in Italy.
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“We had a very solid race, with good calls and good strategy,” he said, via F1. "My pit stop was a bit slow, but I also put this on me, because I possibly arrived a bit too long in the pit box and it definitely didn't help.
“Overall, I am happy to have finished eighth and have made it back in the points: this is also important for the Constructors’ Championship.
“I am obviously hungry for more, but I believe this is the best we could have achieved this weekend – it’s been a consistent, productive one, and a good way to close the European leg of the season.”
Topics: Formula 1
Chris Byfield