After Barcelona high, Nico Hülkenberg aims to keep momentum in Canada. Nico Hülkenberg heads to the Canadian Grand Prix aiming to maintain momentum and consistency for Sauber.

Formula 1 heads to Montreal this weekend for the Canadian Grand Prix, in a moment that’s particularly positive for Sauber and, above all, for Nico Hülkenberg. After a season start marked by several challenges, the German driver delivered a strong performance in the last GP in Spain, where he achieved his best result of the season with a 5th-place finish.

The next goal
The outcome in Barcelona was the result of a perfectly executed race strategy, as well as a good sign of recovery from the team thanks to its new upgrade package: “Barcelona marked a step in the right direction for us,” Hülkenberg explained ahead of the Montreal race. “I felt the car was stronger, we worked well as a team and achieved the result we had worked hard for. This kind of weekend lifts everyone up and brings new energy to the garage and to all the employees in Hinwil. Of course, we know there’s still a gap to close, but we’ve made encouraging progress. The goal for this weekend is to stay consistent, do everything right from the start, and maintain a high level of performance. If we manage that, we can be in the midfield fight.”

First time in Canada
Confirmation of the team’s progress also came from rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. Although still hunting for his first points in F1, the Brazilian also achieved his best finish so far in Spain (12th), and is now preparing for his first-ever race at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit: “I can’t wait to go to Montreal,” added the reigning Formula 2 champion. “It will be a new track for me to discover, and between races I’ve been working in the simulator to better understand its limits. We came out of Barcelona with encouraging feedback on the upgrades and their potential. Our performance showed that we’re getting closer to where we want to be – even if there’s still work to do – and seeing Nico’s strong result has made me even hungrier. Now I’m just looking forward to getting the weekend started: the key, as always, will be to stay focused and adapt to whatever comes our way, making the most of every opportunity.”