#14 Gabriel Bortoleto - Sauber
For the first half of the season, Gabriel Bortoleto looked like the real deal - which we still believe he is. The young Brazilian was punching well above his weight in a lackluster Sauber, even snatching a brilliant sixth place in Hungary that sent his stock soaring.
Then the summer break happened. Whatever momentum he had built seemed to evaporate in the heat, replaced by a series of high-profile blunders in Interlagos and Las Vegas.
While he clearly possesses the fundamental tools to succeed in F1, his 2025 campaign serves as a cautionary tale: in this sport, it doesn't matter how you start if you can't stick the landing.
#13 Nico Hülkenberg - Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg spent 2025 defying his own history. The man famous for Saturday heroics and Sunday heartbreaks did a total 180, becoming the bedrock of Sauber’s race-day strategy.
Despite a car that spent most of its time as a backmarker, Nico dragged it into the points nine times, including a wet-weather masterclass at Silverstone that briefly reminded everyone why he’s still on the grid.
He wasn't always the most predictable performer, and his qualifying form was surprisingly shaky compared to his rookie teammate, but he was the primary reason Sauber regained a shred of dignity this year.
