Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley has praised Gabriel Bortoleto’s exceptional dedication, highlighting the Brazilian’s decision to remain with the team late into Friday evening at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Bortoleto secured his best result in his rookie Formula 1 season, finishing sixth at the Hungaroring and earning eight valuable points for Sauber.

Strong teamwork and driver lineup celebrated by Wheatley

Wheatley emphasized the strength of Sauber’s driver pairing, calling it the most cooperative lineup he has witnessed in his Formula 1 career. The Swiss-based team’s collaboration clearly contributes to their progress this season as both drivers push their development forward.

I have to say that it’s the closest, most collaborative driver pairing I think I can even remember in all my time in Formula 1,

Wheatley told Motorsport.com and other outlets.

He also praised Bortoleto’s learning ability and work ethic, showcasing confidence in the young driver’s potential to become a star in the sport. Wheatley acknowledged the complementary role of teammate Nico as part of Bortoleto’s growth journey.

Gabriel has a fantastic work ethic. He has a capacity for taking on new information. He’s proving every way to be the future star that we expected him to be. And Nico is part of that journey with him.

Experienced teammate plays key role alongside emerging talent

Wheatley further highlighted Nico’s important contribution, despite the lack of points finishes lately, underlining his experience and consistent performances as invaluable to the team’s dynamic.

On the other side of the engineering table, you’ve got this extraordinary experience and Nico’s proven talent. I mean, we’re talking about Gabi a lot today, but Nico did a tremendous job. You don’t really see it or you don’t notice it because it didn’t result in a points finish. But as a team, we’re very pleased with both of our drivers.

Bortoleto’s rapid adaptation and promising progression highlighted

Wheatley acknowledged the challenges Bortoleto faces as a Formula 1 rookie, pointing out his limited previous testing and unfamiliarity with many circuits. Despite this, the young driver has shown impressive progress and adaptability as the season has advanced.

It’s worth pointing out again that he hasn’t done 10,000 kilometres of testing of previous cars. He hasn’t done 10,000 kilometres in the Formula 1 car. It’s his first season in Formula 1.

There are so many circuits that he’s not been to. And there’s some coming up that he hasn’t been to. He’s been able to deliver brilliantly over the last few races in circuits that he knows. And I think he’s matured as a driver and he’s developed as a driver. And I think he’s going to be able to adapt to these new circuits much quicker than he did in the first half of the season.

Bortoleto’s maturity underlined by curfew breach incident

The Sauber team broke the FIA curfew on Friday evening following the first two practice sessions at the Hungaroring, yet Bortoleto remained behind to support his crew. Wheatley saw this gesture as a clear indication of the driver’s maturity and respect for the team environment.

Gabriel stayed and came and thanked his crew at the end of the evening. I think that just shows you not only the level of maturity he has, but the level of respect he has for the team.

Looking ahead: what Bortoleto’s rise means for Sauber

Gabriel Bortoleto’s steady improvement and professionalism signal a significant asset for Sauber’s future ambitions in Formula 1. His capacity to learn quickly and work collaboratively with both engineers and teammates suggests he will continue to develop rapidly. Jonathan Wheatley’s confidence in Bortoleto as a “future star” cements the team’s belief that they have found a promising talent to help strengthen Sauber’s position on the grid in the seasons to come.