Gabriel Bortoleto credits Nico Hulkenberg for his experienced drives in dragging Sauber to F1 points finish even though it is not as consistent enough to score.
After the first round points in Australia in mixed conditions, Hulkenberg and Sauber returned to healthy points finish in Barcelona. He followed it up with another in Canada, as it co-incided with the recent updates the F1 team installed in their car to help itself in the midfield fight.
Hulkenberg drove well as well to ensure he gets into the Top 10, even though he started outside the high end positions. While the German used his experience to excel, rookie teammate Bortoleto hasn’t got the chance yet to get inside the points and help his team score better in midfield fight.
The Brazilian has praise for Hulkenberg for using his experience, which he lacks to identify moments to use in the races to move forward in the races. “[It’s] positive that Nico got decent points again,” said Bortoleto to media. “I think I said this before, he’s taken out of the car more than he actually should be.
“I think he’s an excellent driver, and I really admire everything he’s doing. Because I think it’s impressive. And I’m happy because we have such a similar pace in quali, and in the races as well. It’s just that he manages to get every single opportunity. And I believe this a lot comes from the experience. You see the race in a different way [and] that I’m not able yet to see.
“I think he’s very good at doing this. So I think I’m learning that way from him. And hopefully I can do the same steps he’s doing right now and start scoring some points for the team,” summed up Bortoleto, as he is itching to score as well, not just for himself but also to contribute to his team’s tally in a close midfield fight where everyone is catching Williams for fight.
He has had some decent running so far, but hasn’t extracted 100%, whether in qualifying and or races. “I agree, I think our season has been a very good one, but unfortunately, in terms of results in the races, every time something happens, and we are not able to use the opportunities and so far this season we haven’t had the car to score points until now,” continued Bortoleto.
“So the opportunity we had to score points were missed with me. And for many reasons, sometimes from my side, sometimes from other things. But again, I think this happens to everyone. But it’s frustrating to not score points obviously, because I really want to start scoring points and delivering a bit for the team for all the hard work they are putting on. But we need to be qualifying in that Top 12, I believe. And then things like with Nico, he made a couple of positions in the start. It can happen and you score some points.”
Here’s Nico Hulkenberg on points finish
