Gabriel Bortoleto empathised with fellow rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli amid a frustrating spell for the Italian with Mercedes in Formula 1 this season.

The 18-year-old came into the paddock with lofty expectations. Having skipped Formula 3, the Italian was directly promoted to Formula 2 after winning the FRECA title in his rookie season in 2023.

After Lewis Hamilton’s announcement that he was leaving the German marque for Ferrari, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff was quick to hand Antonelli a promotion to F1.

Antonelli began his career in the sport on a strong note, securing a maiden Sprint pole position at Miami and backing it up with a career-first podium finish in Canada.

However, since then, the European leg of the season has seen the Italian struggle massively with the W16. Since that breakthrough result in Montreal, the 18-year-old has only managed to score a solitary point for the Silver Arrows in Hungary. Bortoleto, who raced against Antonelli in F2 last year, empathised with his plight.

“I don’t want to talk about anyone’s performance or confidence because you never know what is going on inside the team,” he told media including Motorsport Week.

“You know, so many rumours around everything. I feel like Kimi is a very good driver, he’s talented.

“I raced him in F2 last year and he’s in a good car, you know, very good car and he has a very strong teammate as well, so it’s not easy to be in that position. 

“Obviously, I think there was a lot of expectations into this season for him and, yeah, I just… hopefully, he can get some of this confidence back and then perform well because it’s always good to see other rookies doing well. It shows that our generation is strong, so, yeah.”

Russell clarifies Mercedes stance on Antonelli

Antonelli’s struggles with the W16 essentially started from Imola onwards. The team had fitted an upgraded rear suspension that exacerbated the car’s inherent imbalance and promiscuously small operating window.

His team-mate Russell was also vocal about how the car had become a difficult beast to tame in terms of driveability, adding further credence to Antonelli’s analysis.

Russell explained how Antonelli needs to put his entire season into perspective while evaluating his recent struggles.

“I think as a young driver, you’ve got to look at it objectively, which is in terms of his own personal performance,” he assessed.

“You can argue he’s probably actually performing better than he did at the start of the year when you look at the deficit in terms of lap time. It’s just the differences.

“In Canada, when we were on pole, he was in fourth place, over half a second behind. In Spa, he was only three tenths behind me. But that was the difference between out in Q1 or getting through to Q3.”

Mercedes decided to revert to the pre-Imola spec rear suspension at the Hungarian Grand Prix and hopes that this could bring the team back in contention for wins.

But Russell clarified that there is no pressure on Antonelli to mend his ways immediately post the summer break, with a clear understanding that the side is willing to back his team-mate.

“The team have made it very clear he shouldn’t worry about those results,” Russell asserted.

“He’s still done a very good job considering his experience. It’s the car that has brought us both backwards.

“That’s, of course, very difficult to accept when you’re in that position. But it’s never easy when the car is not performing as you expect.”

READ MORE – Why Mercedes is unconcerned by Kimi Antonelli’s debut F1 struggles

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Former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has urged Ferrari to move quickly to secure the services of Gabriel Bortoleto, describing the young driver as “worth his weight in gold”.

Making waves in F1 with midfield outfit Sauber, the 20-year-old claimed his maiden points finish at the Austrian Grand Prix, crossing the line in eighth place ahead of veteran team-mate Nico Hulkenberg.

Despite retiring early at Silverstone, Bortoleto kept his momentum heading into races in Belgium and Hungary. He secured back-to-back top-10 finishes, quickly marking himself as one of the sport’s most promising young talents.

The reigning Formula 2 champion is one of seven rookies to have made their F1 debut this season, impressing with his pace, consistency, and composure against more experienced competitors.

So strong has his start been that Ferrari has been urged to act swiftly to secure his signature from the Swiss outfit.

Ecclestone, who owns a farm in Bortoleto’s native Brazil, played a role in helping the family navigate the youngster’s entry into F1. He praised Bortoleto’s recent performances at the Hungaroring before the summer break.

“I’m glad we were able to help the Bortoleto family with their entry into Formula 1,” he said, according to Swiss-German outlet Blick. “The boy is worth his weight in gold!”

“Bortoleto’s strong performances in a midfield team like Sauber should really wake Ferrari up now. The next driver question for the Italians needs to be resolved with the Brazilian.”

Ecclestone on the rising talents ready to take Hamilton’s seat at Ferrari

The British business magnate’s praise of Bortoleto came amid broader comments on the F1 grid. He is criticising Lewis Hamilton and suggested that the Scuderia should be keeping an eye on other emerging talents.

“If I could steal him, I’d take Isack Hadjar from Racing Bulls,” he told MailOnline. “He has done super well in his first year and is a great guy.

“I also rate our friend from Brazil [Bortoleto]. He is talented. Both of them are sensible, too.”

Ecclestone suggested that Hamilton, a seven-time F1 World Champion, might be due for a break from the sport.

“But like a lot of leading sports personalities when they reach the top, there is only one way to go, and it’s not a good direction,” he added. “It’s only down.

“They get tired. Lewis is tired. He’s been doing what he is doing forever. He needs a rest from it for good, a total reset to do something completely different.

“‘He may not think it but he will soon get used to doing other stuff away from motor racing in retirement. I think he should have done it a while ago.

“‘The guy is not a cheat. But he would be cheating himself if he goes on. He should stop now.”

READ MORE – Ex-F1 supremo urges Ferrari to sign Red Bull-backed driver to replace Lewis Hamilton

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Nico Hulkenberg has detailed how his Sauber team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto’s performances in his rookie season in Formula 1 to date have “surprised” him.

Despite a stellar junior career, the reigning Formula 2 champion came into the paddock this year with limited hype and excitement towards him.

Much of this can be attributed to how Sauber’s struggles last season dulled any expectations for Bortoleto to shine on the grid.

However, the Brazilian driver has been quickly racking up a reputation for himself after some strong results recently, scoring points three times in four races.

At the Hungarian Grand Prix, the 20-year-old secured a career-best seventh-placed grid slot and backed it up with a career-best sixth-placed Grand Prix finish.

Hulkenberg hailed his team-mate’s exploits so far in the Sauber C45, especially considering that it is his maiden campaign in the sport.

“I think he’s a very young, bright, very fast guy,” Hulkenberg told media including Motorsport Week.

“He’s very dedicated, very focused, works really hard. He definitely has the right attitude and he’s got the speed. So, he’s very impressive for me, for a rookie.

“Seeing him that close as a team-mate, seeing his data, listening to what he has to say after sessions and races, I think it’s very, very encouraging.

“And, you know, he has everything that you need to become a great driver and to have a long, successful career.”

Bortoleto has been able to closely match Hulkenberg’s pace, having out-qualified the 37-year-old three times in the last four rounds.

Hulkenberg divulged that while he did not pay much heed to Bortoleto’s results in the lower formulas, he has been left “surprised” with the Brazilian’s pace.

“I didn’t know much about him, you know, to be honest,” he admitted. “And so, yeah, no, it’s definitely a surprise.”

Hulkenberg enjoying Bortoleto partnership at Sauber

Alongside Bortoleto’s recent points hauls, Hulkenberg, on the other hand, pulled off a magical career-first podium at the British Grand Prix with third in a rain-hit race.

The combination’s exploits have ensured that, heading into the summer break, the Hinwil-based squad is squarely in the mix to fight for the lead in the midfield battle.

And while Bortoleto has been keeping Hulkenberg honest, the German revealed that he is actually relishing the chance to fight toe-to-toe with someone like Bortoleto, with whom he claims to share a “very good” relationship both on and off the track.

“It’s very, very good,” he explained, talking about the dynamic at Sauber.

“It’s very healthy. I think we get along really well, but we push each other.

“It is competitive, but it is also in the interest of the team and helping each other, balancing off each other. So it’s been very positive and enjoyable.”

READ MORE – Fernando Alonso claims British bias leading ‘exceptional’ Gabriel Bortoleto to go unnoticed

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Fernando Alonso has theorised that Gabriel Bortoleto’s “exceptional” results this season for Sauber in Formula 1 have gone under the radar because he is not British.

The 20-year-old rookie made it back-to-back points finishes for the Hinwil-based squad after a stellar career-best sixth-place finish in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Bortoleto, who has been gaining momentum, started the 70-lap race from seventh on the grid, jumping Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll at the start and maintaining sixth.

Stroll’s Aston Martin team-mate, Fernando Alonso, who is also the Brazilian racing driver’s manager, hailed Bortoleto’s performances.

“He commits few errors, always putting pressure. He’s [Bortoleto] the best rookie of this generation,” he said via ESPN at the Hungaroring on Sunday.

That said, the Spaniard asserted that Bortoleto is not yet getting the recognition he deserves in the paddock and media, and attributed it to a suspected case of ‘British bias’.

“If he was English, or something, and finished sixth in a Sauber, he’d be in all the news tomorrow,” he continued. “What he does is exceptional.”

Bortoleto himself believes that while he has had a slow start to the season, he has started extracting the inherent pace from the Sauber C45.

“It’s my rookie season. It’s normal that you progress. I think, at least for me, I’ve been always like this,” he explained to media including Motorsport Week.

“If you check my junior series, I’ve been a guy that I always have these types of steps in my career, but just because I like to work, I like to study, I like to understand what I’ve been doing wrong and do a better job.”

Bortoleto relished latest battle with Alonso

Bortoleto had an eventful 70-lap Grand Prix last Sunday, as he tried to thwart Max Verstappen’s advances from eighth on the grid while also battling with Alonso in fifth.

“I gave my best, you know, I tried to keep him [Verstappen] behind, it’s not easy,” he admitted.

“He was flying at that moment, you know, putting a lot of pressure. 

“Fernando was slowing down a lot and honestly it was very nice to fight against him.”

Going into the summer break, Sauber currently sits seventh in the Constructors’ standings – one point behind Aston Martin and 19 points behind fifth-placed Williams.

And with how the last three race weekends have panned out for the team, with two points finishes for the 20-year-old and a career-first podium for Nico Hulkenberg at the British Grand Prix, Bortoleto is confident that Sauber has unlocked its potential and can realistically fight for the lead in the midfield.

“It’s a boost, it’s a lot of confidence, it’s a lot of things for me, for the team and, honestly, I’m looking forward to what we can achieve still this year,” he added.

“I mean I couldn’t be more satisfied than that because I think that’s the real result we can achieve.

“I think we really maximised the car we had today or even did better because I overtook Lance at the first lap and we know the Astons had a very good pace this weekend.”

READ MORE – How Jonathan Wheatley’s detail-driven approach is leading Sauber F1 revival

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Gabriel Bortoleto is hoping to have a close fight with his “good friend” Max Verstappen in the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Sauber rookie achieved his best qualifying result of the season and the team’s best grid position in 2025 by putting his car in seventh place.

With reigning World Champion just behind him, Bortoleto is gearing up for a thrilling battle on Sunday — and a chance to learn from the Dutchman once again on track.

He’s been steadily progressing in his rookie F1 season, scoring his first points at the Austrian Grand Prix and following up with another strong ninth-place finish last time out in Spa-Francorchamps.

The Brazilian is making the step up from Formula 2 alongside the likes of Isack Hadjar, Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Verstappen has become a key figure for the rookies, frequently seen mentoring the young drivers and sharing valuable advice.

Bortoleto, in particular, is keen to learn from the very best. Alongside Verstappen’s guidance, he also benefits from the wisdom of two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso, who manages him.

After an impressive qualifying session in Hungary, that saw him drag Sauber into Q3, Bortoleto expressed his excitement to go wheel-to-wheel with Verstappen on race day — marking the first time he’ll start ahead of him.

“It’s always difficult to keep Max behind,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “If he wants to overtake, it’s going to be a big fight for sure.

“I don’t know [if] his car in the race pace [will be quick]. We were quite competitive but everything can change. Obviously, I’m excited to fight with him tomorrow because he’s a good friend of mine.

“I’ve been learning a lot with him recently, so maybe we have some nice overtakes tomorrow.”

Bortoleto credits team’s late-night efforts for qualifying turnaround

Following his strong qualifying performance, Bortoleto reflected on the challenging start to the weekend and how the team’s hard work and adjustments helped turn things around.

“There’s no secret it’s working [now] and I feel like we had the worst start of the weekend possible,” he added.

“On Friday, I was zero comfortable with the car and struggling a lot with the balance and off pace, I would say.

“Being able to maximise today, put the car in the right window and deliver a Q3 again and a P7 has been something very special that I’m proud of.

“Weekends like this motivate me a lot and they make me a better driver because you need to keep your head down and working.”

The 20-year-old concluded by saying the team had to work overtime to rectify the issues with the C45.

“We broke curfew for fixing things in the car and studying a lot of things that we should do for today and it paid off,” Bortoleto revealed.

READ MORE – Why going wheel-to-wheel with Fernando Alonso is ‘a bit different’ for Gabriel Bortoleto

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Gabriel Bortoleto has credited Jonathan Wheatley for driving steady progress at Sauber since his arrival, highlighting his detail-focused approach and strong collaboration with CEO Mattia Binotto as key to the team’s recent Formula 1 resurgence.

The Swiss outfit has enjoyed a resurgent run of form in recent weeks, amassing a remarkable 35 points over the last four races.

This impressive turnaround has propelled Sauber up the Constructors’ Championship to sixth place, now just 18 points adrift of Williams.

Adding to the momentum, Sauber celebrated a landmark moment at Silverstone as veteran driver Nico Hulkenberg clinched the elusive podium finish he had been chasing throughout his 15-year F1 career.

The emotional result marked not only a personal triumph for the German but also a symbol of the team’s upward trajectory.

A key factor in Sauber’s resurgence has been the arrival of Wheatley, who began his new role on April 1 after an early release from Red Bull gardening leave.

In the months since, he has helped steady the ship and reignite Sauber’s midfield challenge – a shift rookie Bortoleto highlighted ahead of Hulkenberg’s Silverstone breakthrough.

Bortoleto complimented the 58-year-old’s meticulous approach and the synergy he’s built with Binotto, who took over as Sauber Group and Audi CEO last summer.

“Well, I feel like he goes a lot into details with the team,” Bortoleto told media including Motorsport Week.

“He looks after a lot [of] the process we have been doing inside here. He has his way of working that he brings from Red Bull times. A lot of experience in the paddock for many years.

“I believe that his approach with Mattia, both of them working together, is a very good fit because they are able to fit all the parts.

“I feel like they are doing a good job together. We can definitely see progress since Jonathan joined. Mattia has also been doing the work together. So, they have been bringing the team up.”

Bortoleto celebrates first F1 points and growing support from Brazil

The 20-year-old also reflected on the reaction back home after scoring his first points in F1 – a milestone moment in what he sees as just the start of a much bigger journey.

“In Brazil, yes, I think it was very positive,” he expressed. “A lot of people have been cheering for me and wanting my success in F1 and to secure my place here.

“Obviously, we didn’t have the best of starts to the season. We know where we were as a team and [were] really struggling to be fighting for points.

“And then we started bringing some upgrades. Obviously, myself, I have had a huge improvement in my driving. I matured a lot this year already, understanding how to work with the engineers and the team and getting more comfortable.

“And the Brazilians are super happy, but again, I said this before, I’m super happy with scoring points.

“But that’s the beginning of a journey we want to have. But the target is a bigger one than this.”

Bortoleto also became the first driver from his native country to score points in the sport since Felipe Massa back in 2017.

READ MORE — Why going wheel-to-wheel with Fernando Alonso is ‘a bit different’ for Gabriel Bortoleto

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Gabriel Bortoleto says racing Fernando Alonso feels “a bit different” after the pair went wheel-to-wheel during a late-race scrap in the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix.

Facing off against a two-time World Champion is a unique challenge in any context, but for Bortoleto, the dynamic carried an added complexity.

The Sauber driver secured his first points finish of the season with a strong showing at the Red Bull Ring, crossing the line eighth behind Alonso’s Aston Martin.

The result marked another step in the Swiss outfit’s resurgence following a slow start to the year and a recent points surge fueled by upgrades introduced over the last few races.

After a sluggish start to his rookie campaign, Bortoleto is now beginning to demonstrate the pace and racecraft that made him one of the most promising talents entering F1.

Guiding him through this formative year is Alonso, who has managed the Brazilian since September 2022 when Bortoleto joined Alonso’s management company, A14.

The pair share a close working relationship, with Alonso mentoring the young driver both on and off track.

Yet, their intense battle on track revealed how fiercely competitive they both remain – and just how “weird” it was for Bortoleto to race his boss.

“It felt a bit weird in the sense that obviously he’s my manager and it’s Fernando at the same time, a guy that I’ve been watching racing since I started racing and he was there already for many years,” he told media including Motorsport Week.

“When you have the visor down and you’re fighting, you don’t think so much about who it is.

“Obviously it’s a bit different still, I’m not going to lie, but I gave everything.

“There are some things I could have done better probably to pass him there, but he did an amazing job on defending, fighting and placing the car in the right places with the blue flags as well. So yeah, it felt a bit different.”

Alonso reflects on close fight with Bortoleto

Alonso, reflecting on the race, echoed the competitive spirit between the two and offered his perspective on how the battle unfolded, particularly highlighting the crucial role of blue flags in the closing stages.

“It was good- I was lucky there with the blue flags – I think without the blue flags, I had no chance to keep him behind for another two or three corners,” he said.

“That was my maximum life available there, and then with the blue flags, I gained that extra half a lap.

“And then also thanks to the blue flag, it was the final lap of the race and we saw the chequered flag.

“So it was a good combination for me, but yeah, the fight was good. A couple of corners side by side, always with respect.

“And yeah, we drove a couple of times already like that in go-karts and in [the] simulator when we do sessions together and things like that.

“So it was a replica of that, and this time I crossed the line first, so that gives me some satisfaction.”

READ MORE – How Lewis Hamilton helped ‘reassure’ Gabriel Bortoleto after F1 British GP DNF

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Sauber Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley has revealed that Lewis Hamilton offered words of encouragement to Gabriel Bortoleto after the Formula 1 rookie retired from the British Grand Prix.

While it was a day to remember for his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, who secured his first-ever F1 podium, Bortoleto’s race ended after just three laps.

One of Hulkenberg’s standout decisions came before the lights even went out, choosing not to switch to slicks during the formation lap as changing track conditions created uncertainty.

The Brazilian, however, was one of three rookies who opted to swap off the intermediate tyres — a gamble that didn’t pay off. He lost control exiting the Hamilton Straight and spun into the gravel.

Though he initially managed to keep the car running, damage sustained in the incident forced him to retire shortly after, pulling off near the Maggots and Becketts section.

Rather than heading straight back to the team motorhome after his early exit, Bortoleto returned to the garage to support his team — cheering on veteran team-mate Hulkenberg all the way to the chequered flag.

The 20-year-old showed his sportsmanship by congratulating the German over the team radio, then meeting him in parc ferme to offer his support in person.

In a moment that helped soften the sting of retirement, Bortoleto was also approached by Hamilton — the Ferrari driver who narrowly missed out on extending his Silverstone podium streak — but still took the time to console the young Sauber driver, as Wheatley revealed.

“I feel for Gabriel – it’s easy to forget that it’s his first season in Formula One and Lewis had some kind words for him after the race just to reassure him,” he told media including Motorsport Week.

“Gabriel will learn from this; he’ll get stronger.”

Listening, learning and growing: Bortoleto’s rise despite setbacks

After stepping out of the car, the rookie didn’t switch off. Instead, he stayed on the team radio, listening in on his team-mate’s race from start to finish — closely observing the communication, strategy, and decision-making in real time.

Team boss Wheatley praised that mindset, highlighting the young driver’s hunger to grow

“Gabriel has a tremendous work ethic and he has a capacity for learning – he wants to learn,” he said.

“He’s drawing information out of everything. He takes information in from everywhere.

“I think for him to sit there in those conditions and listen to Nico asking all the right questions and conversations on the radio, it’s only going to make him stronger.”

He opened his points account just one week earlier at the Austrian Grand Prix, finishing eighth — notably ahead of his more experienced team-mate — as the team continues its steady climb up the midfield.

With a strong run of form over the past three races, the Swiss outfit now sits sixth in the Constructors’ Championship, just 18 points shy of Williams.

For the rookie, Silverstone may not have delivered the result he hoped for, but his attitude — both in adversity and in learning — continues to underline why he’s considered one of the most promising young talents on the grid.

READ MORE — How collective Sauber effort helped Nico Hulkenberg capture maiden F1 podium

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Fernando Alonso explained how his driving on the final lap of the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix was enough to ‘confuse’ a charging Gabriel Bortoleto as he successfully defended seventh place.

The Spaniard secured his third straight points finish of the year at the Red Bull Ring, having started in 10th place.

But in the closing stages, the Aston Martin man found himself under extreme pressure from the Sauber of rookie Bortoleto, who is managed by the veteran’s A14 firm.

After the race, Alonso first explained how Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson contributed to his unexpectedly high finishing position.

“It was a tough race,” he said. “We didn’t have the pace this weekend, but we still managed a very good race, I think, first thanks to Liam.

“Because I took the DRS on lap 3. On lap 70, I was still in his DRS. I was just doing qualifying laps from Turn 4 to Turn 9,  to the detection [point], and then after the detection in 9, I had the detection in 1, detection in 3, and then every lap was the same sequence.”

Alonso: ‘Lando came at the right moment’ to prevent Bortoleto overtake

As the laps ticked down, Alonso’s mirrors were full of his Brazilian protege’s green Sauber, who had driven superbly all weekend in the Swiss squad’s ever-improving C45.

But the Aston managed to stay ahead, and credited race-winner Lando Norris for some assistance in how he was able to resist Bortoleto.

“And then at the end, Gabriel was a lot faster,” he said. “I thought, honestly, I could not defend, but luckily enough, Lando [Norris] came just at the right moment, blue flags.

“And because Lando overtook us, the next lap was the chequered flag, because we got lapped. So, it was a perfect combination – and a lucky race to finish P7, to be honest…

“I didn’t want to pass Lando, but I could not stay just behind Lando, because then Gabriel would pass me, so I had to try different moves to confuse Gabriel a little bit about what I was doing and at what point.”

READ MORE – Sauber reveals McLaren rejected late request via text message in Austrian GP points battle

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Gabriel Bortoleto made an impromptu visit to the Sauber factory ahead of the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix after admitting to having a “big problem.”

The rookie Brazilian was flying from Japan after finishing 19th at Suzuka, a sign of Sauber’s troubled start to the 2025 campaign, albeit one that has yielded six points due to Nico Hulkenberg’s strong wet weather drive in the Australian season opener.

Bortoleto’s revelation of a surprise factory visit came from the rookie’s determination to improve Sauber’s current situation, where it arguably has the slowest package on the current F1 grid.

Moreover, it afforded the Brazilian time to meet with Sauber’s new Team Principal, Jonathan Wheatley, as well as Chief Operating Officer Mattia Binotto.

“The first week has been very busy for [Wheatley],” Bortoleto told select media, including Motorsport Week. 

“He wants to spend a lot of time with the team, and I think this is a very good approach from his side. But I decided to go back to the factory between Japan and here. 

“I was not supposed to, but I decided to because I wanted to see the team and to have some time with Mattia and Jonathan. 

So we had a good chat there. And also here today, you know, this morning. So it has been very good so far.”

Bortoleto Sauber factory visit ‘very positive’

Bortoleto admitted his “big problem” is having a restless mind if he can’t sleep during travel, and that prompted him to take action and conduct meetings with several Sauber departments.

“I have a big problem. When I don’t sleep, I think a lot. So I went flat out sleeping in the first flight and then in the second flight, I spent like three hours, four hours awake,” Bortoleto said.

“And I was looking outside of the window of the plane, and I was like, ‘I can go home now and just relax, or I can do something useful and go back to the team.’ 

“So when I landed, actually, Mattia called me to speak. He was not in Japan, so he wanted to know a little bit about how the weekend was and discuss some topics. And I asked him, ‘do you think it’s positive if I’m back at the factory to talk to the team?’ And he said, ‘absolutely, it’s very good. And we are going to be super happy if you are here.’ 

“So it was very positive, actually, because I managed to go to a lot of departments, talk to a lot of people, and debrief a little bit on our first three rounds of the season. And I think it was the best decision to be done.”

Bortoleto added, “Well, I’m a driver who likes to spend a lot of time with the team. And I think… I think we had time to analyse a lot of things.”

True enough, Bortoleto has been unable to score a point with Sauber so far, despite showing strong promise in qualifying to do the best he can with an uncompetitive package.

He explained how visits with the design and aero departments at Suaber’s Hinwil base in Switzerland were mutually beneficial. 

“We went through some data together. And yeah, just had some looks,” he said. 

“You know, the racing team was actually already coming to Bahrain. So they didn’t go back. 

“It was more the people from the factory. You know, the designers of the car. 

“So I went to the Department of Aerodynamics and the designers and everything. And we had some good looks at the data to understand what is not working in the car. 

“And what do we need to go, what direction do we need to push for. 

“Obviously, we already had this clear. But, you know, when you are there, what they keep saying a lot is that the driver is the best sensor that the car has. Even if we have a lot of sensors. 

“So I think it’s very important to give very detailed and interesting feedback for them where to go with the car.”

READ MORE – Nico Hulkenberg expecting test from ‘fast as hell’ Sauber F1 team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto

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