Gabriel Bortoleto is “the most effective rookie of this technology” in line with Fernando Alonso, after the Brazilian fought he and Max Verstappen on his approach to a career-best sixth place within the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Sauber has delivered a transparent step ahead with the upgrades it launched on the Spanish Grand Prix, culminating within the group scoring factors in every of the final six rounds. All of Bortoleto’s factors have come prior to now 4 races, and in Hungary he joined fellow rookies Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson in securing a prime six end this yr.
“He is the most effective rookie of this technology,” Alonso – who additionally serves as a part of Bortoleto’s administration – instructed Spanish broadcaster DAZN. “If he have been English or one thing like that and completed sixth in a Sauber, he’d be on the entrance web page of each newspaper.”
On Sunday in Budapest, Bortoleto spent the primary stint between Alonso and Verstappen, occurring to beat the Pink Bull in his finest end up to now.
“Two-times world champ, four-times world champ and I am within the center,” Bortoleto stated. “It is simply one thing wonderful that I am so glad to expertise already in my rookie season and be combating towards these guys. Actually, I am so comfortable. It was an amazing race and we did all the pieces we might.
“[I’m] tremendous happy. I could not be extra happy than that as a result of I believe that is the actual consequence we are able to obtain. Greater than this, it’s provided that we have now luck and if somebody crashes or one thing occurs. I believe we actually maximized the automobile we had – and even did higher, as a result of I overtook Lance [Stroll] on the primary lap and we all know the Astons had excellent tempo this weekend.”
Sauber was one of many groups to decide to a one-stop technique early on in Sunday’s race, and Bortoleto stated it was a show each he and the group will be happy with.
“I’m so pleased with this consequence, it’s our greatest to date and it reveals the wonderful job we’re doing as a group,” he stated. “We’ve been making the suitable steps in the suitable course, and that is only the start of what we are able to obtain collectively.
“The race itself was very intense and mentally powerful, with 70 laps the place you possibly can’t afford a single mistake, however I gave all the pieces I had and didn’t put a wheel mistaken. We maximized each alternative, from my driving to the group’s technique and execution, and I’m so glad for everybody concerned.”
