Gabriel Bortoleto claimed his maiden factors in F1 on the Austrian Grand Prix, rounding off Kick Sauber’s strongest weekend but as Nico Hulkenberg additionally completed within the high 10.
The Purple Bull Ring introduced the Brazilian success in his junior profession, together with his first F2 victory final season, and people earlier performances carried ahead into the Grand Prix as he achieved his greatest F1 consequence to this point.
After exhibiting improved tempo all through observe, the 20-year-old progressed to the ultimate a part of Qualifying for the primary time this yr, ultimately netting P8 on the grid and beating the likes of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli.
He remained in that place when the chequered flag fell, negotiating two pit stops and a significant on-track battle with Fernando Alonso, who’s coincidentally a member of his management team and mentored him via his stints in F3 and F2.
“I really feel like we had a really intense battle – most likely probably the most intense battle I’ve had in F1 to this point,” Bortoleto stated after the race on the late struggle with Alonso. “Outdoors, inside, after which enjoying with the blue flags as effectively with [Lando] Norris after which Oscar [Piastri].
“It has been a loopy one, you understand? Nothing to say, only a nice battle and I’m glad that I’ve been capable of struggle with Fernando till the top of the race for these factors.
“We did an incredible job on the pit stops, we did an incredible job with the technique. I really feel like we did the whole lot that was in our fingers. I simply hope that we are able to preserve this up – a weekend like this repeating each single weekend… I feel we are able to rating extra factors within the season and have nice outcomes.”
Sauber elected to swap Hulkenberg and Bortoleto after the primary spherical of pit stops, permitting the rookie to chase down a much bigger factors haul. Whereas the hole to Alonso began at 9 seconds, he quickly closed it down and launched into a multi-lap battle along with his mentor.
The Spaniard put up a powerful defence, particularly with the added problem of permitting frontrunners Norris and Piastri to go underneath blue flags, and held onto P7. He was later noticed congratulating Bortoleto on his mighty drive to take 4 factors.
Requested whether or not it was a aid to lastly rating, Bortoleto stated: “I all the time knew I used to be able to it. I’m not in Formulation 1 for a random cause. It’s simply good to be within the factors lastly – extra for the workforce than for myself as a result of they actually need to have factors and the whole lot.
“For myself, I’m right here as a result of I need to win someday. I’m not going to be comfortable as a result of I scored a number of factors, you understand? However for positive it’s already an achievement. We ought to be proud of each small achievement and we’re getting into the precise route to attain our larger dream, which can someday be successful championships.”
It was Sauber’s most profitable weekend but in 2025 as Hulkenberg bounced again from beginning final on the grid to achieve 11 positions and safe one other two factors, bringing the workforce into an in depth struggle with Aston Martin and Haas within the team standings.
“Clearly bought a little bit of assist from the race circumstances – a number of automobiles dropping out – however nonetheless, I feel it was a strong race from us,” Hulkenberg stated.
“Very constructive clearly, double factors. From final, I feel that’s fairly respectable and I’m unsure I might have requested for far more right this moment from there.
“Since Barcelona there’s been a change of momentum and I feel now we have far more of a grip now on the automotive and on the season. We appear to be performing significantly better, particularly within the race stints, which is clearly very encouraging and the place we needed to be firstly of the season.
“We’ll attempt to proceed this – it’s by no means simple, we all the time need to work arduous however I’m comfortable and optimistic for now.”
