Wheatley Praises Bortoleto's Surprising Maturity in Rookie F1 Season

Kick Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley has highlighted Gabriel Bortoleto's exceptional maturity as the most surprising quality of his rookie Formula 1 season. Despite his young age and the typical challenges faced by first-year drivers, Bortoleto has impressed with his composure, work ethic, and ability to integrate with his engineering team.

Why it matters:

In a sport where experience often dictates performance, a rookie driver demonstrating such high levels of maturity and adaptability is a rare asset. Bortoleto's rapid development and ability to score points early in his career signal strong potential for Kick Sauber, especially as they navigate a tight midfield battle.

The details:

• Exceptional Maturity: Wheatley specifically lauded Bortoleto's handling of pressure and frustration, noting that he manages these challenges with a maturity beyond his years.
• Strong Work Ethic: Bortoleto's dedication to the simulator and his relentless pursuit of improvement have been consistently praised by the team principal.
• Team Integration: He has shown a remarkable aptitude for knitting his engineering team around him, fostering a collaborative environment that is highly encouraging for future development.
• Strategic Race Approach: On challenging circuits like Monaco, Baku, and Singapore, Bortoleto has adopted a measured, gradual approach, building up his pace and avoiding unnecessary risks. This thoughtful strategy has resulted in minimal errors, with his only barrier contact occurring during a race.
• Points Scored: So far this season, the Brazilian driver has scored points in five races, including a career-best P6 in Hungary, accumulating 19 points in the Drivers' Championship.
• Team Performance: Alongside veteran Nico Hulkenberg, the pair have contributed 60 points to Kick Sauber, placing them ahead of Alpine and in a fierce midfield battle with Racing Bulls, separated by only 12 points for P6 in the Constructors' Championship.

What's next:

With the midfield battle incredibly tight, Wheatley emphasizes a race-by-race approach, acknowledging that consistency and minimizing mistakes will be crucial for Kick Sauber to secure a higher position in the Constructors' Championship. Bortoleto's continued development and ability to consistently perform under pressure will be key factors in the team's ambitions for the remainder of the season, particularly with the Brazilian GP on the horizon. His surprising maturity could be the edge Kick Sauber needs.