Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto both endured a disappointing qualifying session at the 2025 Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, as both drivers from the Kick Sauber team were eliminated in Q1. Despite arriving in the United Kingdom with updates for the C45 car, the team failed to capitalize on any performance improvement, leaving them toward the back of the grid.
Kick Sauber unable to repeat recent form
It was a difficult Saturday for the Kick Sauber Formula 1 Team. The Swiss-based outfit saw both drivers eliminated at the end of Q1, with the updated package not bringing the expected benefits in qualifying conditions. Gabriel Bortoleto, who will start the Grand Prix from 16th position, was unable to fully utilize the updated components due to an accident in the final moments of Free Practice 3 that damaged his upgraded floor.
Veteran German driver Nico Hülkenberg fared even worse, qualifying 19th. However, the 36-year-old has consistently demonstrated strong race pace this season, especially over long stints, and remains a driver capable of recovering positions on Sunday.
Nico Hülkenberg’s comments after qualifying
Speaking after his difficult qualifying, Nico Hülkenberg said: “So far, it’s been a tough weekend for us, and the lack of pace was clear from the very beginning. When the wind picked up, the first sector became even more challenging, and I wasn’t able to put the lap together the way I wanted.”
The seven-time podium finisher added: “The wind conditions, especially as light rain started approaching, made things tricky. While everyone had to deal with it, we seemed to be slightly more affected. Compared to recent weekends where we were competitive, this track has really exposed some of our limitations.”
“Silverstone isn’t a track that suits our car as well as others do. We hope that tomorrow, if the weather becomes variable, it will open up some opportunities for us to fight back.”
Gabriel Bortoleto: “The wind and older spec floor made it harder”
Gabriel Bortoleto also commented on the challenges he faced during the Silverstone qualifying session: “From the very first session of the weekend, we struggled to find rhythm and overall balance compared to recent races. The gusty wind made things even more difficult. Our car doesn’t handle those conditions particularly well—though it’s the same for everyone to some extent.”
The Brazilian explained how the FP3 accident compromised his qualifying: “Unfortunately, during practice, I had a couple of spins which damaged the new floor. Because of that, I had to run the older-spec components during qualifying, which certainly didn’t help in such a tightly contested midfield.”
“I honestly don’t think there was much more to extract from the car,” added Gabriel Bortoleto. “Despite everything, my confidence hasn’t been affected. A spin or an off-track moment is part of the job when you’re pushing the car to its limits. Of course, it’s not ideal, and I feel sorry for the extra work the team had to do.”
Reflecting on his crash in FP3, Gabriel Bortoleto praised his crew: “The team did an incredible job rebuilding the car in time. I’m really grateful for their effort. In qualifying, I was pushing from the very first lap and felt strong—even in the same corner where I previously went off.”
Looking ahead to the race, the Brazilian rookie remains optimistic: “We’ll try to make the most out of every opportunity that comes our way. If the weather gets chaotic, we might find ourselves in a position to move up the field.”
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