Gabriel Bortoleto is “the very best rookie of this era” in line with Fernando Alonso, after the Brazilian fought he and Max Verstappen on his solution to a career-best sixth place within the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Sauber has delivered a transparent step ahead with the upgrades it launched on the Spanish Grand Prix, culminating within the crew scoring factors in every of the final six rounds. All of Bortoleto’s factors have come up to now 4 races, and in Hungary he joined fellow rookies Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson in securing a prime six end this yr.
“He is the very best rookie of this era,” Alonso – who additionally serves as a part of Bortoleto’s administration – informed Spanish broadcaster DAZN. “If he have been English or one thing like that and completed sixth in a Sauber, he’d be on the entrance web page of each newspaper.”
On Sunday in Budapest, Bortoleto spent the primary stint between Alonso and Verstappen, happening to beat the Pink Bull in his finest end thus far.
“Two-times world champ, four-times world champ and I am within the center,” Bortoleto stated. “It is simply one thing wonderful that I am so glad to expertise already in my rookie season and be preventing in opposition to these guys. Actually, I am so comfortable. It was a terrific race and we did every little thing we may.
“[I’m] tremendous happy. I could not be extra happy than that as a result of I believe that is the true consequence we are able to obtain. Greater than this, it’s provided that we’ve luck and if somebody crashes or one thing occurs. I believe we actually maximized the automobile we had – and even did higher, as a result of I overtook Lance [Stroll] on the primary lap and we all know the Astons had superb tempo this weekend.”
Sauber was one of many groups to decide to a one-stop technique early on in Sunday’s race, and Bortoleto stated it was a show each he and the crew could be happy with.
“I’m so proud of this consequence, it’s our greatest thus far and it reveals the wonderful job we’re doing as a crew,” he stated. “We’ve been making the precise steps in the precise course, and that is just the start of what we are able to obtain collectively.
“The race itself was very intense and mentally powerful, with 70 laps the place you possibly can’t afford a single mistake, however I gave every little thing I had and didn’t put a wheel mistaken. We maximized each alternative, from my driving to the crew’s technique and execution, and I’m so glad for everybody concerned.”
