Gabriel Bortoleto solidified his status as Sauber’s benchmark by claiming 13th place in the qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix of Formula 1, held on Saturday morning at the Baku Street Circuit. The Brazilian, in his debut season in the category, outperformed teammate Nico Hulkenberg again and advanced to Q2 in a session marked by six red flags and strong winds.
Bortoleto’s performance came on a day of extreme challenges, with crashes halting the track and limiting quick-lap attempts. Despite this, the 20-year-old driver clocked 1min42s277 on medium tires, securing a spot in the top 10 of Q2 before elimination in 13th overall.
The rookie Brazilian, who will start ahead of Hulkenberg for the 11th time this season, showed consistency on a track demanding millimeter precision in tight corners and the long main straight.
Bortoleto began the weekend with struggles in free practice, finishing 15th on Friday, but adjusted the car’s setup for qualifying.
- Q1 progress: climbed from 18th to 13th on second attempt, avoiding early knockouts.
- Tire choice: prioritized medium compounds, which adapted better to low track temperatures.
- Topping teammate: 11 internal wins against six for Hulkenberg, including the last seven races.
The Baku session highlighted Bortoleto’s resilience, as he managed winds up to 25 km/h and isolated rain threats in the final moments.
Bortoleto’s adaptation to the Baku layout
Bortoleto tackled the Baku Street Circuit for the first time in the premier category, a challenge blending high speed on the 2.2 km straight with tight technical sections. The Brazilian focused on traction out of slow corners like 8 and 10 to maximize tire contact on the asphalt.
In Q1, he posted the 13th time after stoppages from Alexander Albon and Nico Hulkenberg’s crashes. The initial red flag, triggered by Albon in Turn 1, lasted seven minutes and forced quick strategy tweaks.
Bortoleto avoided mistakes in critical sections like the “castle,” where visibility is reduced. His final lap in the opening segment placed him ahead of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, eliminated in 18th and 19th.
- Strong sectors: solid performance in sector 2, gaining 0s2 over his teammate.
- Car adjustments: reduced front wing to counter crosswinds.
- Q1 total time: 1min42s500, enough to advance amid the chaos.
The shift to Q2 required immediate focus, with just four minutes of interval for debris clearance. Bortoleto completed his first quick lap in temporary sixth, before dropping to 14th and regaining one spot in the closing seconds.
Full results from an EPIC qualifying session 🍿#F1 #AzerbaijanGP pic.twitter.com/pCgwdFeFOj
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 20, 2025
Oliver Bearman triggered another red flag by crashing at Turn 2 entry, halting the segment longer. The Brazilian used the break to fine-tune the Sauber C45’s balance, prioritizing stability in heavy braking zones.
Lewis Hamilton aborted his final attempt, sealing elimination in 12th and opening room for Bortoleto to stay competitive. Q2 ended with the Brazilian in 13th, 1s022 off the provisional pole.
The performance reinforces Bortoleto’s learning curve, having scored in recent races like Austria and Hungary, where he even battled veterans like Fernando Alonso.
Tire strategies for Bortoleto in Baku
Compound selection was pivotal in qualifying, with Pirelli providing C3, C4, and C5 for the weekend. Bortoleto mostly chose mediums (C5), offering greater durability in 25-degree cold track conditions.
Softs (C6) showed slow warm-up, causing understeer on corner entries, a risk heightened by crosswinds. The Brazilian tested the red compound in Q1 but switched back to mediums for reliability.
In Q2, his best lap came on C5, highlighting Sauber’s adaptation to a band that acted as soft in the previous edition. The team avoided unnecessary risks, emphasizing clean laps amid interruptions.
- Medium benefits: 80% of Sauber’s timed laps used C5, with minimal degradation.
- Soft challenges: only Oscar Piastri advanced on them, demonstrating McLaren’s versatility.
- Race plan: two stops expected, alternating mediums and hards for undercut in safety cars.
The Q3 rain threat didn’t directly impact Bortoleto, but isolated drops in specific sectors complicated grip. Sauber reported inconsistent adhesion, yet the Brazilian maintained composure for competitive times.
This conservative approach allowed Bortoleto to top Hulkenberg, who chose softs and finished 17th after a Q1 crash.
The strategy aligns with Bortoleto’s street circuit history, where he won junior category races with precise tire management.
Bortoleto’s Formula 1 journey
Gabriel Bortoleto debuted in Formula 1 in 2025 with Sauber, following consecutive F3 and F2 titles in 2023 and 2024. The São Paulo native from Osasco, managed by Fernando Alonso, signed a multi-year deal with the Swiss team, set to become Audi in 2026.
His arrival replaced Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, alongside Nico Hulkenberg. Bortoleto impressed in the 2024 Abu Dhabi test, earning praise from Sauber COO Mattia Binotto.
In his debut at the Australian GP, he reached Q2 and outperformed his teammate despite a race crash. Since then, he has amassed 18 championship points, with highlights in Austria (Q2 podium) and Hungary (sixth place, Driver of the Day).
- Prior achievements: last-to-first win in Monza F2, Mecachrome Outstanding Win Award.
- Alonso partnership: crucial support since Italian F4, where Bortoleto won races early.
- F1 adaptation: from 20th in Jeddah (Q1) to battles with Verstappen in Austria.
Bortoleto left the McLaren Driver Programme to focus on Sauber, prioritizing long-term development. His internal consistency, 11-6 over Hulkenberg, positions him as the team’s leader at the grid’s rear.
In Baku, the Brazilian avoided common rookie errors like those of Bearman and Colapinto, cementing his reputation as an emerging talent.
Internal rivalry and rookie comparisons
Bortoleto extended his qualifying edge over Hulkenberg to 11-6, including a seven-race winning streak. The German veteran suffered a Q1 crash, while the Brazilian delivered clean laps.
Among rookies, Bortoleto stands out alongside Kimi Antonelli (4th in Baku) and Oliver Bearman (15th). Antonelli shone with Mercedes, but Bortoleto edged the Italian in initial free practice.
Isack Hadjar of RB secured 8th with aggression, but Bortoleto prioritized consistency in a less competitive Sauber. The rivalry with Hulkenberg drives car development for 2026.
- Bortoleto advantages: superior hybrid energy management, 1s ahead in Baku.
- Antonelli comparison: FP2 incident where Bortoleto complained of blocking, but ended behind in P15 vs P4.
- Recent streak: points in six of the last eight races, including defense against Stroll in Hungary.
The internal Sauber dynamic benefits the team, with Bortoleto’s data guiding floor and wing updates.
Other rookies like Bearman faced crashes, while Bortoleto dodged Baku traps like Turn 15, where Leclerc hit the wall.
Race outlook for Bortoleto
Starting 13th positions Bortoleto to capitalize on safety cars, common in Baku with a 70% rate in recent editions. The 51-lap race, at 8 a.m. Brasília time, calls for tire management on the long straight.
The Brazilian targets points via undercut strategy, using initial hards for DRS overtakes. His traction in final corners can aid defenses against chasers like Stroll.
- Key factors: 15 km/h winds and expected sun, 22-degree ambient temperature.
- Targets ahead: Alonso (11th) and Hamilton (12th) as initial marks.
- Street history: F2 wins in Baku boost confidence.
Bortoleto expressed optimism post-practice, calling the day “decent” despite challenges. His progress from 15th in FP2 to P13 in quali shows growth.
Sauber lines up the Brazilian ahead of Hulkenberg, bolstering the fight against Haas and Alpine at the back.
Other rookies like Hadjar (8th) and Antonelli (4th) shine, but Bortoleto builds a solid foundation for the season’s remainder.
Formula 1 moves to Singapore, but Baku marks another step in the Brazilian’s rise.
