Because the 2025 Formulation 1 season looms on the horizon, F1 veteran Nico Hulkenberg has supplied a tantalizing glimpse into his early impressions of his new Sauber teammate, Gabriel Bortoleto.
The duo, forming a completely contemporary lineup for the Hinwil-based squad, kicked off its collaboration lately in Bahrain throughout pre-season testing.
Following three intense days of working their C45 on monitor, Bortoleto – final yr’s FIA Formulation Champion – caught Hulkenberg’s eye, and never only for his pedigree.
“Superb. I believe we get on very well – he’s a very nice man, a wise child, quick as hell!” praised the German.
“He learns actually rapidly. He did his first race sim right here on the take a look at, so I sit up for working alongside him.”
For a rookie tackling the steep studying curve of F1, nailing a race simulation in testing isn’t any small feat. Bortoleto’s swift grasp of the ropes suggests he’s not simply quick, however sharp – a mix that ought to show productive for Sauber alongside Hulkenberg’s expertise.
Because the German settles into his new group after two years with Haas, he’s clearly intrigued by the potential of this partnership.
Navigating New Territory at Sauber
For Hulkenberg, the Bahrain take a look at wasn’t nearly sizing up his teammate, it was additionally a crash course in adapting to Sauber’s world.
The 37-year-old, who swapped groups over the low season, is embracing the contemporary begin.
“It’s going nicely. We’ve been working collectively since January, had many manufacturing facility days, simulator days,” he mirrored. “Clearly now [this is] our first time at monitor, however I believe on that aspect issues are progressing nicely.”
©Sauber
The shift has introduced a buzz of discovery, one thing Hulkenberg relishes.
“I get pleasure from working with the engineers within the workplace, with Mattia [Binotto], with everybody within the storage and again within the manufacturing facility,” he stated.
“Whenever you change group, there’s so many issues to discover and uncover – one of many good issues while you change group, in comparison with while you’re with a group that you just’re settled in.
“Plenty of issues to find, all the things’s new, and it’s like a brand new relationship! It’s an thrilling, fascinating part now.”
That spark of novelty is palpable as Hulkenberg dives into Sauber’s operations, from simulator periods to trackside collaboration beneath group boss Mattia Binotto.
It’s a stark distinction to the familiarity of Haas, and the veteran appears invigorated by the problem.
Testing Units the Stage
The Bahrain take a look at itself was a whirlwind, laying the groundwork for Sauber’s 2025 marketing campaign.
“[Testing was] a fast three days – they really feel lengthy in a method however brief on the identical time. It’s been good to get a hand on the automotive and to begin working with my new group.”
©Sauber
The main focus wasn’t on headline lap occasions however on constructing a basis.
“It’s been intense days – a whole lot of laps, a whole lot of information collected, which is sweet to have subsequent week off now and to course of all the things, to digest it, analyse it, after which begin the season in Melbourne,” he defined. “I sit up for that.”
Whereas Hulkenberg was content material with the progress, he stored expectations in verify.
“Clearly I’ve no thought the place we’re, to be sincere,” he added.
“However it’s extra about discovering an excellent start line with the automotive and understanding how set-up adjustments work, all these sort of staple items, and I believe we ticked these bins, so we’ll see what we get in Melbourne.”
Strengths and Weaknesses
Prodded on the C45’s strengths and weaknesses, Hulkenberg stayed candid but cautious.
“I believe there’s at all times many areas to work on – clearly we come from a small method again, in the event you take a look at final yr, so I believe there’s many areas the place we will work on and enhance,” he stated.
Sauber’s 2024 struggles linger within the background, however Hulkenberg isn’t able to pinpoint the automotive’s forte simply but.
“The place we’re sturdy, I don’t know, to be sincere!” he confessed. “I believe we’ll have to enter the competitors and actually measure ourselves one-to-one in opposition to the others and we’ll know.”
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