Mixed feelings for Sauber
At Sauber, the atmosphere was cautiously optimistic after the São Paulo GP. Nico Hülkenberg secured points in ninth place, while hometown hero Gabriel Bortoleto suffered retirements in both the Sprint and the main race, leaving the young Brazilian rookie disappointed in front of his home fans.
Hülkenberg’s strategy pays off
After qualifying in tenth place, Nico Hülkenberg and the team were hopeful, deciding on a one-stop strategy for the race—a risky choice made by few drivers. The gamble paid off, as demonstrated by his ninth-place finish. “Overall, it was a decent race,” Nico Hülkenberg said. “The first lap wasn’t ideal: I lost some positions and got stuck behind Alex Albon in the first stint, making recovery difficult. But our one-stop strategy worked well, and we were able to maximize the soft tire stint. That part was definitely a highlight. Of course, two points are a nice reward, but overall we lost some ground in the championship fight, which isn’t ideal. Still, everything is still to play for: the battle between teams is very tight, and with only three races remaining, every race counts. The team did an excellent job with strategy, car setup, and pit stops today.”
Bortoleto’s challenging home debut
For Gabriel Bortoleto, however, the weekend was much tougher. Expectations were high from the home crowd, but the young Brazilian could not finish either the Sprint or the main race. While Hülkenberg’s strategy and experience helped him secure points, Gabriel Bortoleto faced the harsh reality of F1 racing, highlighting the steep learning curve for a rookie competing in front of his national fans.
The second half of the Constructors’ Championship is tightly contested, with four teams packed within twenty points between Racing Bulls and Sauber. The Swiss team tried to console Gabriel Bortoleto, who left his Brazilian debut with a double DNF, one of which raised concerns due to a heavy crash against the barriers at the end of the Sprint race. Any chance of redemption in the main race vanished immediately on the first lap the following day, this time after a collision with Lance Stroll.
“It was a really tough weekend for me, made even harder because it was my first home race, and I really hoped to have a strong showing in front of my family and fans,” Gabriel Bortoleto admitted. “You always hope to do a good job, or at least have a solid race, and not even completing a single lap was very hard to accept. I got off to a good start, immediately gained a position, and was about to attempt another overtake when I came into contact with Lance Stroll. It was a first-lap incident, and these things can happen—it’s racing. The support from our fans this weekend was incredible. Even in the difficult moments, they kept cheering, shouting my name, and showing so much affection. I can never thank them enough: it means everything to me. Seeing how much it means to my country makes me proud, and I hope to give them something to celebrate soon. Weekends like this are tough for everyone, but we’ll move forward and come back stronger for the final three races of the season.”
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