Nico Hülkenberg has opened up about his growing admiration for rookie teammate Gabriel Bortoleto, admitting that the 20-year-old Brazilian has "surprised" him with his pace and professionalism during their debut season together at Sauber.
Despite entering Formula 1 as the reigning Formula 2 champion, Bortoleto arrived on the grid with relatively little fanfare.
Low expectations were largely tied to Sauber’s underwhelming form in previous seasons. But midway through the 2025 campaign, the Brazilian has impressed pundits in the paddock – and earned the respect of his vastly more experienced teammate.
Speaking during last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Hülkenberg did not hold back in his praise for Bortoleto’s early performances, particularly after the Brazilian secured a career-best sixth place finish at the Hungaroring.
“I think he’s a very young, bright, very fast guy,” said the German. “He’s very dedicated, very focused, works really hard.
“He definitely has the right attitude and he’s got the speed. So, he’s very impressive for me, for a rookie.
“Seeing him that close as a team-mate, seeing his data, listening to what he has to say after sessions and races, I think it’s very, very encouraging.
“And, you know, he has everything that you need to become a great driver and to have a long, successful career.”
Bortoleto has out-qualified his veteran teammate in three of the last four rounds — an achievement few predicted at the start of the season. While Hülkenberg captured a fairytale podium in a rain-soaked British Grand Prix, it’s been Bortoleto’s consistency and maturity that have drawn attention.
Hülkenberg admitted that prior to this year, Bortoleto wasn’t on his radar. The young gun’s results in junior categories, as impressive as they were, didn’t particularly catch his eye – but sharing a garage has quickly changed that perception.
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“I didn’t know much about him, you know, to be honest,” Hülkenberg confessed. “And so, yeah, no, it’s definitely a surprise.”
With three points finishes in his last four races, and standout drives in Austria and in Hungary, Bortoleto is fast becoming one of the breakout names of 2025.
Despite the competition heating up between the two, Hülkenberg revealed that the intra-team rivalry has remained respectful and constructive.
“It’s very, very good,” he said of the team dynamic. “It’s very healthy. I think we get along really well, but we push each other.
“It is competitive, but it is also in the interest of the team and helping each other, balancing off each other. So it’s been very positive and enjoyable.”
That chemistry is paying dividends. Sauber heads into the second half of the season as a serious midfield contender, energized by a blend of experience and emerging talent that’s proving more effective than many expected.
As for Hülkenberg, he seems more than content to go toe-to-toe with a driver 17 years his junior — and even more excited to see just how far Bortoleto can go.
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