Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber Formula 1 driver, has praised Nico Hulkenberg‘s tactical prowess that helped secure a remarkable third-place finish at the British Grand Prix held at Silverstone. Hulkenberg climbed from 19th on the starting grid to claim his first Formula 1 podium, earning valuable points for both himself and the Sauber team.

Hulkenberg’s Rise to the Podium Amid Challenging Conditions

The British Grand Prix was marked by unpredictable weather and chaotic racing conditions, which caused several retirements, including that of Bortoleto himself, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson, and Franco Colapinto who did not start. Despite these difficulties, Hulkenberg managed to navigate the race strategically, moving steadily through the field to reach the podium.

Bortoleto expressed his respect for his teammate’s accomplishment, highlighting the confidence it has brought to the Sauber team after consistent improvements throughout the season.

“Yeah, it was great. I mean, obviously, it’s a big achievement for the team,”

Bortoleto said, emphasizing the positive momentum their recent performances have generated.

He added,

“It gives a lot of confidence for everyone. It shows that all the steps we have been doing this year have been paying off. Yeah, just everyone is super happy and excited to keep up with this momentum that we are having the last five rounds.”

Bortoleto Reflects on His Own Race and Strategy Missteps

While Hulkenberg’s success was celebrated, Bortoleto acknowledged his own early retirement, attributing it partly to a strategic pit stop decision that backfired. He tried switching to slick tires early in the race, inspired by experienced drivers such as Charles Leclerc and George Russell who attempted the same under changing track conditions.

“I saw some experienced guys ahead of me doing it, Charles [Leclerc], [George] Russell, and I thought, you know, they know the track very well, the conditions, I saw as well some dry patches on track and I said, ‘I’m going for it’, trying something, we are starting anyway in the back,”

Bortoleto explained. However, this gamble did not pay off, and like several others, he struggled and ultimately crashed.

He further reflected,

“So I feel that was a very tricky race, I tried something different, didn’t pay off, I feel like those that did the basics very well done and executed a very good race, they managed to score points or even a podium like Nico did.”

Team Dynamics and the Impact of Hulkenberg’s Performance

Despite missing out on the race finish, Bortoleto remains supportive of his teammate’s achievement and hopes to be competing at that level soon.

“Absolutely, I mean I was super happy for Nico and I’m still super happy for him, but obviously I would love to be me there and fighting for that, but, I mean, he did the decisions himself and it is what it is,”

he said.

He noted that if he had made similar decisions, he might have been able to contend for a top finish himself. Hulkenberg’s ability to adapt and implement smart race tactics under intense pressure has proven invaluable to Sauber’s growth in the current Formula 1 season.

Hulkenberg’s British GP podium finish not only adds significant points to the team’s standings but also underscores the importance of experience and decision-making when weather and track conditions are unpredictable. Sauber’s steady progress and the boost in team confidence suggest a promising trajectory moving forward.