Bortoleto aims for his first points after a solid Q2 performance, while Hulkenberg looks to bounce back from narrowly missing out on Q2.
Sauber made a strong showing in qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix, with Gabriel Bortoleto securing a spot in Q2 after a standout performance at Hard Rock Stadium. He finished 13th, a solid result in challenging conditions.
After a day that saw alternating heavy rain during the Sprint session and intense sun and heat for qualifying, the team ended on a high note, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting race tomorrow.
“I’m really happy to be back in Q2 with a solid performance after some difficult sessions where I couldn’t fully show our potential. But there’s still a bit of frustration because I think we could have been even stronger, maybe even in Q3,” Bortoleto said.
“Today felt like a step forward. The team did a great job with the car, and I felt comfortable, gaining confidence session after session. My second fast lap in Q1 was probably my best of the weekend; the car was in the ideal window. I made a small mistake on my last run in Q2, but no one ever delivers a perfect lap here.”
“Overall, it was good work. More importantly, we managed to put everything together in qualifying and show our pace, something we haven’t been able to do consistently this season. Doing well today and showing what the team, the car, and I are capable of means a lot. Now, our focus is on tomorrow: starting 13th with the possibility of rain and some surprises. Anything can happen. Others have scored points from similar grid positions, so we’ll give it our all and aim for a strong result.”
On the other side of the garage, Nico Hulkenberg also came close to making it to Q2 but fell short by a slim margin, starting 16th on the grid.
“This Saturday wasn’t the best,” Hulkenberg admitted. “After a promising Sprint qualifying performance yesterday, I didn’t meet my expectations today, both in the Sprint and qualifying. In the Sprint, I lost ground right at the start, which made it difficult to recover in such a short race, even though I finished 9th after some penalties were handed out to other drivers.”
“As for today’s qualifying, Q2 was possible, but in my final lap, the rear of my car slid slightly out of Turn 1, costing me two to three tenths, which killed my momentum in the long straight. I tried to improve; I managed to go faster in the final sector, but it just didn’t work out. Now, it’s time to look ahead and prepare for the race.”
With both drivers having faced their own challenges, Sauber is set to take on tomorrow’s race with optimism, hoping for a strong finish.
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Sauber F1 Ready for Miami Showdown After Strong Qualifying Sauber F1 Ready for Miami Showdown After Strong Qualifying