Sauber faced a challenging qualifying session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto securing 13th and 16th on the grid for tomorrow’s Mexican Grand Prix. Bortoleto narrowly missed out on reaching Q2, while Nico edged out Fernando Alonso by just 0.087 seconds in Q2, highlighting the tiny margins that continue to make a difference this season, especially during qualifying. The race will provide an opportunity to advance and fight for a place in the top ten.
Comments from Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal
“It was a well-executed qualifying session by the team. We followed our plan and put ourselves in a position to extract the maximum from every lap, with both drivers getting the chance to set a clean lap.”
“Nico reached the limit of what the car could deliver. These cars operate within a very narrow performance window, where everything needs to be perfect, from tire temperatures to balance, and that’s why we see such variability in the midfield from race to race. Gabi was finding a good rhythm, but unfortunately, the balance wasn’t the same on his final lap, and he couldn’t complete a clean lap.”
“Our goal now is to improve during tomorrow’s race. It will be a challenging strategic choice with tire selection and the possibility that all three compounds come into play. We need to be ready to maximize every opportunity that comes our way.”
Nico Hulkenberg’s thoughts
“I’m not very satisfied with how qualifying went because we believed we had greater potential based on the pace we showed in free practice. It felt like we were close to the limit, but we couldn’t gain the extra two tenths needed for Q3. The laps were clean and consistent, but the pace wasn’t enough. Still, we’re still in the fight, and tomorrow’s race is another opportunity. The field is very competitive, so we will carefully evaluate our strategic options and give our best to achieve a strong result.”
Gabriel Bortoleto’s disappointment
“It’s a bit disappointing, to be honest. The first two qualifying runs were quite good, but I couldn’t put everything together on the final push with the new soft tires. I struggled to find the necessary grip during the lap and ultimately couldn’t achieve the result I was hoping for. The pace was definitely there, which makes it even more frustrating. It’s a circuit that’s difficult for overtaking, so tomorrow won’t be easy, but we’ll give it our all. There’s still a lot to play for, and we’ll try to make the most of every opportunity in the race,” he concluded. Now, all that’s left is to wait for the race to see what unfolds.
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