Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley predicts Gabriel Bortoleto will have an easier time of it after the F1 summer break.<\/p>\n
Bortoleto proved a revelation in recent races as the rookie chalked up his first F1 points at the Austrian Grand Prix, quickly followed by two more top 10s in the three events that followed.<\/p>\n
Jonathan Wheatley has been impressed by Gabriel Bortoleto\u2019s progression<\/p>\n
It was a slow start to the year for Bortoleto, who won last year\u2019s Formula 2 championship before graduating to F1 with Sauber.<\/p>\n
He did so after being released by McLaren after forming part of the squad\u2019s junior driver programme.<\/p>\n
His arrival at Hinwil came with limited experience in an F1 car. Bortoleto did not take part in a Friday practice session for McLaren in 2024, nor had he completed extensive mileage, as some of his peers had.<\/p>\n
In addition to that, it was only at the Bahrain Grand Prix that he competed at a circuit he\u2019d raced at in his junior career.<\/p>\n
He was also left dealing with an unruly car, such that veteran teammate Nico Hulkenberg managed just a single top-10 result in the opening eight races of the year.<\/p>\n
Upgrades introduced for the Spanish Grand Prix have seen the car come to life, helping Hulkenberg record a first-career podium at the British GP.<\/p>\n
As Sauber\u2019s form improved, so too has Bortoleto\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s worth pointing out again that he hasn\u2019t done 10,000 km of testing of previous cars,\u201d Wheatley told the media, including PlanetF1.com.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has done 10,000 kilometres in a Formula 1 car. It\u2019s his first season in Formula 1. There are many circuits that he\u2019s not been to, and there\u2019s some coming up that he hasn\u2019t been to.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been able to deliver brilliantly over the last few races, on circuits that he knows.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s matured as a driver, and he\u2019s developed as a driver, and I think he\u2019s going to be able to adapt to these new circuits much quicker than he did in the first half of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
That upturn in form has led to suggestions that the Brazilian has been the most impressive rookie through the opening 14 events of the season \u2013 stealing that mantle from Isack Hadjar.<\/p>\n
Among those singing Bortoleto\u2019s praises has been teammate Hulkenberg, who has been impressed with his young colleague.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s a very bright, very fast guy, who is very dedicated, very focused, works really hard,\u201d the Hulkenberg said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe definitely has the right attitude, and he\u2019s got the speed. It\u2019s very impressive for me, for a rookie, seeing him that close as a teammate, seeing his data, listening to what he has to say after sessions and races.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s very, very encouraging. He has everything you need to become a great driver and to have a long, successful career.\u201d<\/p>\n
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