Sauber can breathe at last: Hülkenberg and Bortoleto hail a technical breakthrough
After a complicated start to the 2025 season, the Sauber team is finally seeing the light, thanks to a successful technical update introduced in Barcelona. Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto are reaping the rewards, with a marked improvement in performance, renewed morale and a brighter outlook.
Barcelona, tipping point for Sauber. For months, Sauber struggled to emerge in a tight pack. But in Barcelona, everything changed. The Swiss team unveiled a significant aerodynamic package: new flat floor, modified engine cover, reworked front wing… Immediate result: half a second gained per lap according to internal simulations, and a fifth place for Nico Hülkenberg, the best result since 2022.
The update had a real impact, says the German. We were much more efficient, and I’m happy we were able to benefit so much from it. While Hülkenberg acknowledges a bit of luck with Antonelli’s retirement and a late safety car, he insists on the strength of the race pace. I also think we were strong on our own. The pace was good, we deserved those points.
A boost of confidence for Bortoleto
The rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, engaged for his first F1 season, confirms the transformation. What he emphasizes the most: the consistency finally found in the C45.
It’s clearly a step forward, he notes. The car is more consistent, more predictable. You can extract a better lap time from it, even in changing conditions. He mentions a better overall feel and increased ease in flirting with the limits, even on bumpy tracks or in the rain. It’s less temperamental. We understand its balance in turns better. It gives me more confidence. A crucial element for a young driver still in the learning phase.
A break in the clouds after a long journey through the desert
Before this resurgence in Barcelona, Sauber was stuck in a losing streak. Between Melbourne and Spain, no points on the scoreboard and morale was low. Hülkenberg openly refers to it as a period of famine.
The improvement had begun in Australia with early developments, but it was indeed the Catalan package that changed everything. And the numbers speak: thanks to the 16 points scored exclusively by Hülkenberg, Sauber climbs to 8th place in the constructors’ standings. “It was a vital result for the team,” insists the German driver. “We needed a trigger.”
More work before dreaming higher
Despite this technical takeoff, there’s no question of getting carried away. Hülkenberg remains clear-eyed. « It’s a transitional year. There’s still work to be done. »
He points out that on slow tracks, like Monaco or Singapore, the car still struggles. The C45 performs better on fast and flowing circuits like Barcelona.
But this resurgence gives hope. In the medium term, the team is preparing to become Audi F1 Team, and every development progress will be crucial to laying the foundations.
« We see that the groundwork is paying off », concludes Bortoleto. « The car now has a real foundation: for adjustments, different circuits, and also for us, the drivers. »
