As the 2025 Formula 1 season looms on the horizon, F1 veteran Nico Hulkenberg has offered a tantalizing glimpse into his early impressions of his new Sauber teammate, Gabriel Bortoleto.
The duo, forming an entirely fresh lineup for the Hinwil-based squad, kicked off its collaboration recently in Bahrain during pre-season testing.
Following three intense days of running their C45 on track, Bortoleto – last year’s FIA Formula Champion – caught Hulkenberg’s eye, and not just for his pedigree.
“Very good. I think we get on really well – he’s a really nice guy, a smart kid, fast as hell!” praised the German.
“He learns really quickly. He did his first race sim here at the test, so I look forward to working alongside him.”
For a rookie tackling the steep learning curve of F1, nailing a race simulation in testing is no small feat. Bortoleto’s swift grasp of the ropes suggests he’s not just fast, but sharp – a combination that should prove productive for Sauber alongside Hulkenberg’s experience.
As the German settles into his new team after two years with Haas, he’s clearly intrigued by the potential of this partnership.
Navigating New Territory at Sauber
For Hulkenberg, the Bahrain test wasn’t just about sizing up his teammate, it was also a crash course in adapting to Sauber’s world.
The 37-year-old, who swapped teams over the off-season, is embracing the fresh start.
“It’s going well. We’ve been working together since January, had many factory days, simulator days,” he reflected. “Obviously now [this is] our first time at track, but I think on that side things are progressing well.”
©Sauber
The shift has brought a buzz of discovery, something Hulkenberg relishes.
“I enjoy working with the engineers in the office, with Mattia [Binotto], with everyone in the garage and back in the factory,” he said.
“When you change team, there’s so many things to explore and discover – one of the nice things when you change team, compared to when you’re with a team that you’re settled in.
“Lots of things to discover, everything’s new, and it’s like a new relationship! It’s an exciting, interesting phase now.”
That spark of novelty is palpable as Hulkenberg dives into Sauber’s operations, from simulator sessions to trackside collaboration under team boss Mattia Binotto.
It’s a stark contrast to the familiarity of Haas, and the veteran seems invigorated by the challenge.
Testing Sets the Stage
The Bahrain test itself was a whirlwind, laying the groundwork for Sauber’s 2025 campaign.
“[Testing was] a quick three days – they feel long in a way but short at the same time. It’s been nice to get a hand on the car and to start working with my new team.”
©Sauber
The focus wasn’t on headline lap times but on building a foundation.
“It’s been intense days – a lot of laps, a lot of data collected, which is nice to have next week off now and to process everything, to digest it, analyse it, and then start the season in Melbourne,” he explained. “I look forward to that.”
While Hulkenberg was content with the progress, he kept expectations in check.
“Obviously I’ve no idea where we are, to be honest,” he added.
“But it’s more about finding a good starting point with the car and understanding how set-up changes work, all these kind of basic things, and I think we ticked those boxes, so we’ll see what we get in Melbourne.”
Strengths and Weaknesses
Prodded on the C45’s strengths and weaknesses, Hulkenberg stayed candid yet cautious.
“I think there’s always many areas to work on – obviously we come from a small way back, if you look at last year, so I think there’s many areas where we can work on and improve,” he said.
Sauber’s 2024 struggles linger in the background, but Hulkenberg isn’t ready to pinpoint the car’s forte just yet.
“Where we’re strong, I don’t know, to be honest!” he confessed. “I think we’ll have to go into the competition and really measure ourselves one-to-one against the others and we’ll know.”
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