Wheatley impressed by Bortoleto’s growth and ‘fantastic work ethic’

The Hungarian Grand Prix delivered a breakthrough moment for Sauber’s rookie sensation Gabriel Bortoleto, who clinched a stunning sixth-place finish in the tightly disputed race.

But while the result alone was enough to impress, it’s what went on behind the scenes that had Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley singing the young Brazilian’s praises.

In a race weekend that saw Sauber claw back vital points, Wheatley took a moment to shine a spotlight not just on Bortoleto’s performance, but on the 20-year-old’s unwavering dedication, highlighting his “fantastic” work ethic and his “brilliant” future.

Late Nights and Big Gains

While most drivers leave the circuit after their Friday practice sessions and debriefs, Bortoleto stayed back after the opening day of running at the Hungaroring, working closely with his engineers until late in the evening before personally thanking his crew – a gesture that left a strong impression on Wheatley.

“Gabriel stayed and came and thanked his crew at the end of the evening. I think that just shows you not only the level of maturity he has, but the level of respect he has for the team,” said the Sauber chief.

That maturity, according to Wheatley, is one of the many qualities that make Bortoleto stand out as a first-year driver in a fiercely competitive field.

“Gabriel has a fantastic work ethic. He has a capacity for taking on new information. He's proving every way to be the future star that we expected him to be,” the Briton added.

A United Front at Sauber

Wheatley was also quick to highlight the harmony within the team, particularly between Bortoleto and his vastly more experienced teammate, Nico Hülkenberg.

“I have to say that it's the closest, most collaborative driver pairing I think I can even remember in all my time in Formula 1,” he said.

With Hülkenberg bringing years of insight to the garage and mentoring the rising star on the other side of the engineering table, the pairing has become a strength for the Swiss-based team.

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“On the other side of the engineering table, you've got this extraordinary experience and Nico's proven talent. I mean, we're talking about Gabi a lot today, but Nico did a tremendous job. You don't really see it or you don't notice it because it didn't result in a points finish. But as a team, we're very pleased with both of our drivers.”

Still Learning, Still Rising

What makes Bortoleto’s trajectory even more impressive is just how steep his learning curve has been. Unlike some rookies who arrive with thousands of kilometres in testing, the Brazilian has been learning on the job – and thriving.

“It's worth pointing out again that he hasn't done 10,000 kilometres of testing of previous cars. He hasn't done 10,000 kilometres in the Formula 1 car. It's his first season in Formula 1,” Wheatley explained.

“There are so many circuits that he's not been to. And there's some coming up that he hasn't been to. He's been able to deliver brilliantly over the last few races in circuits that he knows.

“I think he's matured as a driver and he's developed as a driver. And I think he's going to be able to adapt to these new circuits much quicker than he did in the first half of the season.”

As Bortoleto heads into the second half of his rookie season, his Hungary performance may be remembered not just as a breakthrough, but as a signal of what's to come.

For Wheatley and the Sauber team, the signs couldn’t be clearer: the young gun’s got talent, he’s got maturity – and most of all, he’s got the drive.

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