F1 2025 recap: Gabriel Bortoleto justified Sauber’s faith in him

Key Highlights

• The new parts didn't dramatically change the C45, but given F1 2025's tight midfield margins, that was all it took to lift Sauber into the thick of the midfield battle instead of the tail end.
• And with that, Bortoleto's rookie season saw lift-off as well.
• The youngster finally earned his first points with eighth place in Austria, and had two more standout performances in Hungary – qualifying seventh and finishing sixth – and Monza, which yielded another eighth place. While Bortoleto's maiden campaign was far from perfect, including a gut-wrenching home debut in Brazil that ended in two crashes, he has both shown the required pace and the strength of personality to thrive in the highest echelons of motor racing. Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, SauberNico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, SauberThat was particularly evident in his raw pace against ace qualifier Nico Hulkenberg.
• While the German veteran grabbed Sauber's headline result with a long overdue podium in Silverstone, Bortoleto embarked on a run of eight consecutive qualifying sessions outqualifying his team-mate.
• Hulkenberg recovered to level the qualifying score at 15-15, but was kept honest by a youngster still learning the ropes. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I think it's all about the confidence you have in the car, and it has been a great season in that sense to be matching a guy like Nico," Bortoleto said.