A ninth-place finish for Brazilian rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto marked another successful weekend for Sauber, as he remained consistently inside the top ten during both qualifying sessions and the race itself. Meanwhile, German driver Nico Hülkenberg had to settle for twelfth place after a bold strategic choice did not pay off.
Another Top Ten Result
Sauber’s recent form continues to show signs of improvement, with the team now achieving points finishes in five consecutive Formula 1 Grands Prix. At the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix held at Spa-Francorchamps, it was Gabriel Bortoleto who delivered a strong performance to bring home ninth place. The young Brazilian, in his debut Formula 1 season, managed to finish inside the top ten for the second time in his career. This result came just two weeks after teammate Nico Hülkenberg secured his first-ever podium in Formula 1 at Silverstone.
A Risky Strategic Approach
However, the race at Spa-Francorchamps was far from straightforward, particularly from a strategic point of view. Nico Hülkenberg’s race was shaped by a one-stop strategy plan, which was especially bold given the mixed weather conditions at the start. With the Belgian Grand Prix beginning on a wet track, Hülkenberg initially fitted intermediate tyres, making his pit stop on lap 12 to switch to medium compound slick tyres.
Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley later confirmed that the team had planned for Hülkenberg to complete the race with just that one stop. Unfortunately, things did not go as intended. Unlike his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto, Hülkenberg experienced excessive front tyre wear. As a result, he was forced to make a second stop with around 11 laps remaining.
The 37-year-old German driver explained the situation: the race had been unusual from the start, as the drivers had to wait over an hour after the first formation lap due to adverse weather conditions. He admitted that losing out on points by just one second was particularly disappointing.
Hülkenberg pointed out that the decision to pit again became unavoidable as the performance of his front tyres dropped significantly. He began to suffer from locking under braking and understeer, especially problematic due to the higher-downforce setup his car was running compared to that of Pierre Gasly, who was pursuing him. Gasly had a lower-downforce aerodynamic configuration, giving him better straight-line speed. Under such conditions, staying out on degrading tyres was not an option.
Although the German driver rejoined the race after his second pit stop and attempted to recover lost ground, he ultimately crossed the finish line outside the points. Still, Hülkenberg emphasized that the overall pace of the Sauber car had been encouraging and that the team was making consistent progress. He praised Bortoleto’s performance, noting that his teammate had secured crucial points for the Constructors’ Championship. Hülkenberg concluded that Sauber once again proved to be competitive in the midfield battle, which bodes well for the next round of the championship in Budapest.
Strong Weekend for Bortoleto
In contrast, the Belgian Grand Prix weekend was entirely positive for Gabriel Bortoleto. The rookie driver consistently demonstrated strong pace, remaining within the top ten from the Sprint qualifying session through to the final race. Reflecting on the weekend, Gabriel Bortoleto expressed satisfaction at returning to the top ten, acknowledging that the changing weather made conditions particularly challenging.
The Brazilian explained that the race began on a wet track and gradually dried up, creating unpredictable grip levels and strategic uncertainty. Despite the difficulties, he and the team remained focused, made the correct decisions during the race, and ultimately brought the car home in ninth place. Gabriel Bortoleto stated that he was pleased with the outcome, feeling that they had extracted the maximum possible performance from the Sauber package.
He praised the work of the entire team, highlighting how the car had felt competitive throughout the entire weekend, from practice to qualifying and during the race itself. While every driver dreams of fighting for podium positions, Gabriel Bortoleto recognized that this solid points finish marked another significant step forward in his rookie season. The two points earned at Spa added to his growing confidence, and he expressed eagerness to carry the momentum into the upcoming race in Hungary.
The Brazilian concluded by affirming his belief that the team is moving in the right direction and stated that he is fully committed to continuing to push hard as the first half of his debut Formula 1 season nears its conclusion.
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