Gabriel Bortoleto is “the perfect rookie of this era” based on Fernando Alonso, after the Brazilian fought he and Max Verstappen on his method 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 workforce scoring factors in every of the final six rounds. All of Bortoleto’s factors have come prior to now 4 races, and in Hungary he joined fellow rookies Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson in securing a high six end this 12 months.
“He is the perfect rookie of this era,” Alonso – who additionally serves as a part of Bortoleto’s administration – instructed 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, occurring to beat the Purple Bull in his finest end so far.
“Two-times world champ, four-times world champ and I am within the center,” Bortoleto mentioned. “It is simply one thing superb that I am so glad to expertise already in my rookie season and be combating in opposition to these guys. Truthfully, I am so completely satisfied. It was an amazing race and we did every part we might.
“[I’m] tremendous happy. I could not be extra happy than that as a result of I believe that is the true consequence we will obtain. Greater than this, it’s provided that we have now 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 mentioned it was a show each he and the workforce might be pleased with.
“I’m so pleased with this consequence, it’s our greatest to this point and it reveals the superb job we’re doing as a workforce,” he mentioned. “We’ve been making the appropriate steps in the appropriate route, and that is just the start of what we will 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 part I had and didn’t put a wheel unsuitable. We maximized each alternative, from my driving to the workforce’s technique and execution, and I’m so glad for everybody concerned.”
