Sauber experienced a night of intense adjustments as they breached curfew rules on Friday in Hungary, ultimately leading to a surprising qualifying performance from rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto. Overcoming a challenging practice session, Bortoleto secured his best qualifying result of the season, starting from seventh place on the grid.
After encountering difficulties during Friday’s practice, where he finished 17th and struggled with the car’s balance, Bortoleto and the Sauber team remained late into the night, making adjustments that proved fruitful. The team utilized one of their two permitted curfew breaches allowed throughout the season, working until midnight to enhance the car’s handling.
The next day, Bortoleto demonstrated significant improvement, advancing through Q1 with the fifth-best time and just managing to qualify for Q2, where he finished narrowly ahead of Oliver Bearman. In the final Q3 session, he maintained his momentum, ultimately ending with the seventh-fastest time.
Expressing his delight post-qualifying, Bortoleto shared, “Yes, very, very happy! Going to Q3 is always an achievement for us, and doing my best quali is special.” He acknowledged the importance of the teamwork that took place overnight, stating that it motivated him and contributed to his growth as a driver.
The qualifying session posed its own challenges, with difficult and windy conditions impacting car performance. Bortoleto adapted his strategy accordingly after noticing changes in wind direction affecting his speed, leading to an effective final set of runs.
In a notable twist, Bortoleto outqualified reigning World Champion Max Verstappen, indicating a competitive weekend ahead. While the pair enjoy a friendly rapport off the track, Bortoleto anticipates a fierce battle during the race.
As Bortoleto finds his rhythm, having scored points in two of the last three races, he looks forward to building on this momentum, especially with the possibility of rain adding unpredictability to the race. He stated, “When it’s raining, you never know in Formula 1, but I believe we can be fighting for the points.”
This weekend’s events highlight the promising potential of Bortoleto as he continues to acclimate to the demands of F1, showcasing resilience and adaptability—qualities that are crucial for success in the sport.