Sauber in the top 5
There was no shortage of surprises at the Spanish Grand Prix, in a Barcelona race that highlighted the experience and racecraft of a driver like Nico Hülkenberg. Right from the start, the German Sauber driver managed to gain several positions with an excellent launch as the lights went out, and then climbed into the points zone helped by the updates brought by the Ferrari-powered Swiss team.
To this was added the wild finale after the Safety Car exit, with a successful overtake on Lewis Hamilton for sixth position, which then officially became fifth following Max Verstappen’s penalty. Imagining Sauber in the top 5 at the start of the season seemed unlikely, but Hülkenberg achieved it with an outstanding performance that made him one of the standout names of the Spanish GP: “It was one of those Sundays where everything went perfectly,” commented the 37-year-old, who scored his second points finish of the season after coming 7th in Melbourne. “Right from the start we were in the mix: a strong launch, a clean first lap, and we were immediately able to fight for the points. Ironically, not having the best Saturday and saving a set of soft tyres gave us a strategic edge in tyre allocation. The Safety Car mixed things up a bit, and having that new set turned out to be a golden ticket. There was a significant difference between used and fresh tyres, so that paid off.
The car performed well all weekend and the updates clearly allowed us to take a step forward in terms of performance, and we had solid pace throughout the race. Credit to the whole team, both at the factory and at the track, for the hard work on the updates. I didn’t fully maximise qualifying – it was disappointing not to deliver and I was frustrated with myself, but that frustration gave me an extra boost in the race. It’s satisfying to bounce back like this and bring home 10 points. A great result for us, and that’s what really matters in the end.”
Gabirel Bortoleto close to his first points
Sauber thus celebrated the fifth-place finish achieved by one of the most experienced names in the paddock, while also coming close to a double points finish with the younger Gabriel Bortoleto, one of this year’s rookies on the grid. The Brazilian, reigning Formula 2 champion, crossed the line in 12th at the end of a convincing weekend, also marking his best result of the season: “First of all, congratulations to Nico and the team. This result shows how well the updates worked, and seeing the car’s potential was really encouraging, making me even more motivated to work towards scoring my first points. From my side, I think it was a solid race. We took everything we had and made the most of it. The team did a great job with the strategy today. The Safety Car didn’t go in our favour, but that’s part of racing. What really stands out is the pace we showed: it was strong, and the updates were a big step forward for both of us. The last three races have been full of lessons and positive momentum. We’re heading in the right direction, and now it’s straight back to work as we prepare to go racing again in Montreal in two weeks.”
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