Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber carried its late-season resurgence into the heat and drama of Interlagos, taking home another points finish in a weekend that tested endurance, emotion, and engineering precision. With Nico Hülkenberg securing ninth place on Sunday, the Hinwil-based squad—Audi’s 2026 works partner—extended its run of points finishes to three consecutive races, signaling steady progress in the battle for midfield supremacy.
CHARGED WEEKEND IN FRONT OF HOME CROWD
The Brazilian Grand Prix marked a milestone for Gabriel Bortoleto, who became the first Brazilian to race at home with the Sauber team. Backed by tens of thousands of fans draped in green and black, the young driver’s weekend began with promise as both C45s looked competitive in Friday’s Sprint Qualifying session. Hülkenberg’s tenth-place result put the team in contention for Sprint points, while Bortoleto, just behind in fourteenth, showed solid pace on one of the shortest and most technical laps of the year.
SPRINT SATURDAY HIGHS & HEARTBREAK
Saturday brought both triumph and tension. In the Sprint, unpredictable weather caught out multiple drivers, including Hülkenberg, who skidded off in a multi-car incident but was able to continue after a rapid repair by the Sauber crew. The greater drama came when Bortoleto, pushing hard near the points in front of his home crowd, suffered a violent 57G impact at Turn 1. Miraculously, he walked away uninjured, but the damage to his car ended his Sprint—and nearly his weekend.
The team responded with characteristic determination, rushing to rebuild the car in time for qualifying. Though the effort fell just short as time expired, the scene in the garage—mechanics working flat out under the São Paulo lights—was a testament to the Hinwil spirit. Hülkenberg alone represented the team in qualifying and rewarded their effort with his first Q3 appearance of the season, setting up a promising Sunday from tenth on the grid.
RACE DAY REDEMPTION
On Sunday, Hülkenberg delivered a composed and aggressive drive, executing a one-stop strategy to perfection and overtaking his way back into the points after a tricky opening lap. His ninth-place finish continued Sauber’s climb up the Constructors’ standings, moving the team to 62 points and keeping them firmly in the fight as the season enters its final triple-header.
Bortoleto’s Grand Prix debut at home ended prematurely after early contact at Turn 10, but not before the Brazilian impressed with bold overtakes and confident racecraft. Despite the heartbreak, his raw pace and resilience underscored why Audi sees him as part of its long-term Formula One future.
BUILDING THE AUDI FOUNDATION
For Audi fans, Interlagos was another glimpse of what’s coming. The team’s ongoing evolution—teamwork, steady performance gains, and flashes of technical brilliance—reflects the culture Audi Sport is set to inherit in 2026. As Sauber continues to build momentum under the Audi banner, every point, every rebuild, and every hard-fought finish adds to the foundation of the brand’s next chapter in Formula One that is set to be revealed on Wednesday.
With three races to go on the 2025 season—Las Vegas, Doha, and Abu Dhabi— the focus Sauber intends to remain focused, even as a window into the Audi era is set to open.
TEAM QUOTES
Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal
“We’re leaving Brazil with mixed emotions. It was heartbreaking to see Gabi pushed wide on the opening lap of his first home Grand Prix, especially with such incredible support from the fans. Nico fought brilliantly all the way to the end, showing real composure. The pit crew once again delivered a rock-solid stop when it mattered most, performing flawlessly under pressure. We were fighting hard for P7, but the two Racing Bulls worked well together and made it tough to break through. Still, we are proud to come away with points on the board for the third consecutive race; a strong result for the whole team. Now it’s about recovery and preparation as we head into the final triple header, aiming to finish the season on a high.”
Nico Hulkenberg, Car #27
Race result: gth
Fastest lap: 1:13.474 (Lap 39)
Strategy & Pit Stops: Start (New Medium) – Lap 36 (New Soft)
“It was a decent race overall. The first lap wasn’t ideal – I lost a few positions and got stuck behind Alex [Albon] in the first stint, which made recovery tough. But we executed a strong one-stop strategy and managed to stretch the soft stint really well. That part was definitely a highlight. Of course, two points is something to take away, but in the bigger picture, we did lose a bit of ground in the championship fight, which isn’t ideal. Still, it’s all to play for – it’s super tight between the teams, and every race matters now with just three to go. The team did a great job on strategy, car prep and pit stop today.”
Gabriel Bortoleto, Car #5
Race result: DNF
“It’s been a really tough weekend for me, even more so because it was my first home race and I was really hoping to have a good one in front of my family and fans. You always hope to do a good job, or at least have a solid race, and not being able to complete even a single lap was very hard to take in. I had a good start, gained a position right away, and was going for another move when I made contact with Lance [Stroll]. It was a first-lap racing incident, and these things can happen, that’s racing. The support from our fans this weekend has been incredible. Even through the difficult moments, they kept cheering, shouting my name, and showing so much love. I can’t thank them enough – it means everything to me. Seeing how much it means to my country makes me proud, and I hope I can give them something to celebrate soon. Weekends like this are tough for everyone, but we’ll move on and come back stronger for the final three races of the season.”
PHOTO GALLERY
