Brazilian racing driver Gabriel Bortoleto continued to impress with his rapid ascent in the 2025 Formula 1 season, achieving his best-ever race result by finishing sixth at the Hungarian Grand Prix. This milestone highlighted the young Brazilian’s growing potential and confirmed his status as one of the most promising rookies on the grid.
Sauber have made remarkable progress after a difficult 2024 campaign, during which the team scored just four points. The Swiss-based Hinwil squad has benefited greatly from substantial upgrades introduced in 2025, with experienced driver Nico Hulkenberg already securing his first Formula 1 podium finish at Silverstone this season. Despite Hulkenberg’s achievements, he has faced stiff competition within the team, as Gabriel Bortoleto has consistently outqualified the German veteran, regularly reaching Q3 in recent events.
Bortoleto had scored his first Formula 1 points earlier in the season with an eighth-place finish in Austria, followed by a ninth-place result at the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps. At the Hungaroring, he maintained this momentum by qualifying seventh, notably outpacing defending four-time world champion and close friend Max Verstappen. During the race, Bortoleto successfully overtook Lance Stroll at the start and kept a strong pace throughout, ultimately securing sixth place—his highest finish in Formula 1 so far. His weekend performance was exceptional, especially considering the significant difficulties he encountered during Friday’s practice sessions.
The rookie driver’s struggles during the opening practice sessions in Hungary were well documented. He reportedly found the balance of the Sauber C45 car to be inadequate and expressed discomfort, which hampered his performance in FP1 and FP2. In response, the Sauber team made the decision to break the 10 pm curfew—an allowance granted to all teams twice per season—to undertake a complete overhaul of Bortoleto’s car setup. This late-night work was crucial in addressing reliability concerns and improving the car’s balance ahead of qualifying and the race.
Motorsport journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm observed that Gabriel Bortoleto stayed late with the Sauber crew after they finished their work to personally thank them for their efforts, which were instrumental in enabling his strong qualifying performance and race pace. According to Mitchell-Malm’s report for The Race, Bortoleto was “zero comfortable” in the car during the initial practice runs, prompting the team to use their Friday night ‘joker’ to optimize the car’s setup. Bortoleto’s gesture of gratitude to his mechanics reflected his professionalism and dedication, and his efforts were rewarded with a solid weekend: he reached Q3, set the seventh-fastest qualifying time, and delivered a clean, consistent drive to finish sixth in the race.
This work ethic and attention to detail mirror the approach taken by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton throughout the 2025 season. Hamilton, also adapting to a new environment with Ferrari at Maranello, has been noted for putting in long hours during the winter months, arriving early and leaving late at the factory as he integrates himself with his new team. Bortoleto, entering his rookie season in a similarly challenging environment, has drawn inspiration from Hamilton’s dedication and embraced the extra effort required to succeed. This approach clearly paid dividends for Bortoleto at the Hungarian Grand Prix and is likely to benefit him throughout his burgeoning Formula 1 career.
The remarkable performance delivered by Gabriel Bortoleto in Hungary has attracted widespread praise across the Formula 1 paddock. It is no surprise that both the driver and Sauber have garnered significant attention in 2025, as the team has transformed from backmarkers to credible midfield contenders largely thanks to th Brazilian’s consistent performances.
Bernie Ecclestone, the former Formula 1 chief executive, has expressed strong admiration for Bortoleto’s talent, describing the young Brazilian as “worth his weight in gold.” Ecclestone also revealed how pleased he was to see Bortoleto make it onto the Formula 1 grid. Max Verstappen himself reportedly advocated on Bortoleto’s behalf before the driver secured his seat with Sauber, encouraging others in Formula 1 to give the rookie a chance to prove himself.
Although it is still early in his career, Bortoleto is already establishing himself as a formidable talent. His manager, four-time world champion Fernando Alonso, has praised him highly, declaring that Bortoleto is the best rookie of his generation. This endorsement came after Alonso finished fifth in Hungary, just ahead of his protégé’s sixth-place result.
With Audi’s anticipated takeover of Sauber in 2026, excitement within the team is rising as they look to build on their recent progress. The hope is that with drivers Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg, the team can continue to climb the Formula 1 grid and challenge more consistently toward the front of the midfield pack.
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