Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto delivered his most competitive F1 weekend yet at the 2025 Spanish GP, achieving both his highest Qualifying and finishing positions of the season. Despite ultimately placing 12th and narrowly missing out on his maiden points, Bortoleto demonstrated significant promise—outqualifying veteran teammate Nico Hülkenberg and maximising the performance of Sauber’s updated C45 package.
An enjoyable challenge in brutal heat
Although the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya provided high-stakes racing, it also presented extreme conditions. The sweltering 30°C track temperatures made the Spanish GP one of the hottest races of the season—if not officially, then certainly from the drivers’ perspective. Speaking to written media after the race, Bortoleto described the race as mentally and physically demanding, but also gratifying.
“Yeah, definitely. I think it was the hottest this year we had, at least it felt like [it’s the hottest]. I know Jeddah is known for being a very hot race, but this one, I do not know, with the sun and everything, day race, it is very complicated, but honestly, it was OK.”
“It was a nice race to enjoy, enjoyable because there were overtakes until the last moment, so it was very tough, very demanding, but also mentally.“
Analysing Hülkenberg’s start and strategy
Despite qualifying ahead of Hülkenberg for the 2025 F1 Spanish GP, Bortoleto found himself trailing his teammate early in the race. Hülkenberg’s electric launch and decisive first-lap choices propelled him up the order and eventually into a strong points finish. Bortoleto later acknowledged the veteran’s tactical edge, particularly his advantage in tyre allocation.
“I did not see him in the escape road. But definitely, I was surprised to see him so fast like that. I think definitely I have an idea why that happened. You know, that he was so fast compared to many guys around us.”
“I believe this is a lot from the new tyres as well. But you know, it does not matter; you can have new tyres, but if you are not a good driver, you need to place your car in the right places, and he did everything perfect and managed to gain so many positions there. It was an amazing job from him.“
Upgrades deliver promising results
Central to Sauber’s improved form in Spain was their new update package. Both drivers praised the upgrades, which have aimed to mitigate the C45’s previous struggles in dirty air. Bortoleto echoed the positive assessment, emphasising that the changes have made the car more competitive and user-friendly.
“Definitely, yes. I think it was a good step. I believe the result of today showed this, and hopefully I can be the one scoring points next time.“
He noted that the team’s development goals were clear: to produce a car that could remain competitive even when closely following rivals.
“The team says it is targeted at getting a drivable car that you can use more than the start of the season, where it is affected badly by dirty air and all that.“
When asked whether dirty air had been the biggest issue resolved by the updates, Bortoleto responded affirmatively.
“Yes, I would say so. Today I have been able to follow much closer to other cars and try some overtakes. So definitely it was a step in the right direction.”
Learning and looking forward
Although Bortoleto did not score points at the 2025 F1 Spanish GP, he left Barcelona with renewed optimism and valuable insights. His long stint on the medium compound tyres mirrored Hülkenberg’s, yet the absence of fresh soft tyres ultimately limited his late-race potential. Nevertheless, he views the experience as a vital learning opportunity.
“A lot of learnings I think, but now we need to go back and analyse everything. Now I understand some stuff that I could have done probably a bit better, and things that I did well.”
“But now it is time to analyse. That is the best thing you can do after a race like this, is sit down with your engineers and study every single thing you did, check the tyre management that is happening.“
As Bortoleto continues to evolve within Formula 1, performances like these serve as important milestones. With strong qualifying form, increasing confidence, and a growing command over race strategy, the young Brazilian appears well on his way to securing his first championship points.
