Bortoleto scores maiden top ten finish as Kick Sauber celebrate double points

30/06/25 Rhonan Colquhoun 23:45pm

F2 graduate Gabriel Bortoleto led home Kick Sauber team-mate Nico Hulkenberg to score his maiden points as his team celebrated their first double points finish of the 2025 season.

The Brazilian, who was the only full-time rookie this season not to have scored points so far, used his experience of the Red Bull Ring – having won the F2 Feature Race in 2024 - showed good pace from the get-go - completing every practice session inside the top 10.

It was a career first for the Sauber driver as Bortoleto advanced through the qualifying stages to reach Q3 for the first time and started the race from eighth place.

Like the majority of the field, Bortoleto opted for a two-stop strategy – pitting first on lap 21 and then again on lap 49 – which kept him inside the top 10 and was set on hunting down the one-stopping drivers of Racing Bull’s Liam Lawson and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.

As the number of laps dwindled down, Bortoleto was on the verge of being within attacking range of Alonso when the Brazilian was lapped by eventual race winner McLaren’s Lando Norris.

With one less lap to complete, the Kick Sauber driver ran out of time to improve his position as the Two Time Champion held onto his seventh place.

As the young Brazilian got out of his car in Parc Fermé, he was congratulated by Alonso whose management company – A14 Management – oversees his career. Bortoleto was also seen to have been congratulated by Reigning Champion Max Verstappen in the media pen following the race.

For his efforts, Bortoleto was also awarded the Fans Driver of the Day as the Sauber driver reflected on a “crazy race”. He said: “Just a great battle and I’m glad that I’ve been able to fight with Fernando until the end of the race for these points. I think we can score more points in the season and have great results.”

There was joy on the other side of the garage as Bortoleto’s team-mate, Nico Hulkenberg, executed a brilliant race to recover from a disappointing qualifying to finishing in the points.

Hulkenberg rose up the order having started from last place to finish in ninth place right behind his rookie team-mate to score points for the fourth time this season and for the third time in a row.

With Bortoleto and Hulkenberg finishing in eighth and ninth, the team took home their second biggest points haul so far this season with eight. Hulkenberg’s excellent drive to fifth place at the Spanish Grand Prix, which yielded 10 points, remains the largest haul yet.

Kick Sauber Team Principal Johnathan Wheatley expressed how “proud” he was of both of his drivers after a “hugely rewarding weekend.” He said: “A proper team effort, and a result that means a lot to everyone here at the track and back at the factory.”

Kick Sauber remain in ninth in the Constructors Championship with 26 points – two points behind Aston Martin and only three behind Racing Bulls - but now have pulled clear of Alpine who sit last on 11 points.