Nico Hülkenberg impressed with a strong start in Saudi Arabia, while Gabriel Bortoleto faced frustration after missing crucial FP2 due to a fuel issue.
Nico Hülkenberg quickly found his rhythm behind the wheel of the C45 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, finishing Friday’s sessions in a solid ninth place. It was a positive start for the Sauber F1 driver, who is hopeful of building on this momentum for the remainder of the weekend.
“Djeddah is a really impressive circuit to drive, with its fast sections, direction changes, and overall dynamic layout. It’s a demanding track. I’m happy that we managed to get the car into a good operating window in FP1 and complete our usual Friday program in FP2,” Hülkenberg said.
“We’ve gathered valuable data on the tires and made some structural adjustments to the setup between sessions. There’s still work to be done overnight to fine-tune the details, but it’s encouraging to see that we’re in a good position.”
For Gabriel Bortoleto, however, Friday was less than ideal. The Brazilian was unable to participate in FP2 due to a fuel leak, leaving him frustrated as he now faces the challenge of making up for lost time. Without running in conditions that simulate qualifying and the race, he felt he missed out on vital preparation. “It’s not ideal, especially on the second-fastest track of the season and for my first time in an F1 car here,” he admitted.
“It’s quite frustrating, but the team couldn’t do anything about it – these things happen. Luckily, the team identified the issue right after FP1 and tried to fix it in time, but it wasn’t possible. It’s good to see Nico in ninth, though – that’s not bad at all.”
“I did learn a bit in FP1, but not much. I managed a few laps, but FP2 is really the key session before qualifying. It’s the best opportunity to learn and understand the setup, so it’s a shame I couldn’t take part.”
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Sauber F1’s Friday: Hülkenberg Impressive, Bortoleto Struggles Sauber F1’s Friday: Hülkenberg Impressive, Bortoleto Struggles
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