Gabriel Bortoleto, Brazilian driver for Sauber, arrives at the Circuit of the Americas for his first race in Austin, Texas, this week. The United States GP, the 19th round of the 2025 Formula 1 season, takes place from October 17 to 19 and marks the start of the American sequence in the calendar. After a difficult stage in Singapore, the 20-year-old emphasized the team’s intensive preparation to overcome recent obstacles.
The race in Marina Bay, held on October 5, ended with Bortoleto in 17th place, hindered by a start-line contact that damaged his front wing and required a prolonged pit stop.
The weekend in Austin adopts the sprint format, with only one free practice session on Friday, increasing the pressure for quick adaptation.
- Main challenges in Singapore: extreme heat above 30°C, 80% humidity, and 19 technical corners that wore out Sauber’s tires.
- Team result: Nico Hülkenberg, Bortoleto’s teammate, finished last, without scoring points.
- Championship position: Bortoleto is 18th with 18 points, while Sauber is eighth in the Constructors’ Championship with 55 points.
Happy 21st birthday to our Brazilian butterfly 🦋💚🇧🇷 Bring on this weekend in Austin, Gabi 🤠
— Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber (@stakef1team_ks) October 14, 2025
Feliz aniversário de 21 anos e voe alto, Gabi! 🦋💚🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/S3oOvee1WZ
Accelerated preparation in the simulator
Bortoleto dedicated extra hours to the simulator since the end of the Singapore stage to map the 5.513 km Austin layout.
The Texan track, inaugurated in 2012, combines corners inspired by classic circuits like Silverstone and Suzuka, with a steep climb in turn 1 of nearly 40 meters.
The team adjusted aerodynamic settings to handle the abrasive asphalt and weather variations, which may include strong winds and temperatures above 25°C.
Challenges of the sprint format in Austin
The reduced schedule leaves little time for testing, forcing Sauber to prioritise simulator data. Bortoleto completed classification and long-run simulations, focusing on tire management for the 56 laps of the main race.
The team’s strategy aims to recover positions in the sprint start on Saturday, with Hülkenberg sharing data analysis work.
The track offers good overtaking zones, especially on the main straight, which could benefit Sauber’s car if initial adjustments work.
Technical features of the Circuit of the Americas
The Texan layout requires balance between speed and traction, with high-speed sections like turns 9 to 11, nicknamed “esses” for their fluidity. Since 2012, the circuit has hosted 13 GPs, with Max Verstappen as the top winner, totaling four consecutive victories from 2021 to 2024.
Lewis Hamilton holds the pole record with five, while Sauber has never scored points in Austin, motivating the team to break this mark.
Asphalt undulations demand firm suspension, and brake wear is high in braking zones for slow corners like 12 and 14.
Bortoleto, in his rookie season, has already scored in four races, including an eighth place in Austria in June, where he overtook Fernando Alonso in an intense battle.
Sauber’s history in the US GP
The Swiss team, set to become Audi in 2026, seeks to improve its performance on American soil after modest results in recent editions. In 2024, Sauber’s best result in Austin was a 12th place by Valtteri Bottas, replaced by Bortoleto this season.
The transition to the new 2026 regulations drives investments in young talents like the Brazilian, signed to a multi-year deal.
Hülkenberg, the experienced partner, praised Bortoleto’s maturity in recent practices, highlighting his ability to provide precise feedback.
Team expectations for the sprint
The short race on Saturday offers extra points, and Sauber plans an aggressive start to gain initial positions. Telemetry data from Singapore indicates need for better traction in corner exits, adjusted for Austin’s smoother layout.
The forecasted weather for the weekend includes partial sun on Friday and chance of isolated rains on Sunday, requiring setup flexibility.
Bortoleto expressed optimism in a recent interview, stating the team is aligned to explore track opportunities.
The American sequence continues with GPs in Mexico and Brazil, where the Brazilian aims for consistency to add regular points.
