BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 01: Gabriel Bortoleto of Brazil driving the (5) Kick Sauber C45 Ferrari leaves the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 01, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Guido De Bortoli/LAT Images)

F1 Update: Week 31, Hungarian Grand Prix Summary

ROUND 14,  F1 LENOVO HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX, HUNGARORING

Aug 01-03


EVENT SUMMARY

QUALIFYING

(Photo by Simon Galloway/LAT Images)

With extremely tight margins during the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session, Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber experienced mixed results. Gabriel Bortoleto achieved a a personal best result of P7 on the grid. In the meantime, Nico Hulkenberg missed Q2 by a razor-thin margin.


GRAND PRIX

(Photo by Guido De Bortoli/LAT Images)

The Hungarian Grand Prix marks the final race before the F1 season’s summer break, where Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber closed out the first half of the year with a solid performance. For the team’s Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, a sixth-place finish marked both his best Formula 1 result to date, adding eight points to the team’s 2025 tally. For veteran driver Nico Hulkenberg, Hungary was more of a challenge where the German started from the back of the grid and fought through the field for a P13 result.

Points scored at the Hungaroring contributed to a current total of 51, placing Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber at seventh in the Constructors’ Championship. Given a challenging start to the season, seeing Sauber move to a strong competitor in the midfield battle is a gratifying change, inspiring even more determination in the squad as they prepare for the second half.


TEAM QUOTES

Gabriel Bortoleto, Car #5
Race result: 6th
Fastest lap: 1:20.705 (Lap 48)
Strategy & Pit Stops: Start (New Medium) – Lap 40 (New Hard)

“I’m so happy with this result, it’s our best so far and it shows the amazing job we’re doing as a team. We’ve been making the right steps in the right direction, and this is just the beginning of what we can achieve together. The race itself was very intense and mentally tough, with 70 laps where you can’t afford a single mistake, but I gave everything I had and didn’t put a wheel wrong. We maximised every opportunity, from my driving to the team’s strategy and execution, and I’m so glad for everyone involved. To be racing between a two-time World Champion [Fernando Alonso] ahead and a four-time World Champion [Max Verstappen] behind was an incredible experience, and moments like that remind me how far we’ve come. I want to thank every member of the team, on track and as well in Hinwil for this first part of the season. What we achieved would not be possible without all the work that we put together. I just want to enjoy this with my family now and celebrate the progress we’ve made as a team.”

Nico Hulkenberg, Car #27
Race result: 13th
Fastest lap: 1:20.013 (Lap 67)
Strategy & Pit Stops: Start (New Soft) – Lap 5 (New Medium) – Lap 41 (New Medium)

“It was a challenging race today, no doubt. Starting from the back, we knew it would be an uphill battle, especially on a narrow track where traffic management is always tricky. We opted for an aggressive two-stop strategy, which looked promising at times, but in hindsight, the one-stop turned out to be the more effective route for most. Ultimately, my result was shaped by yesterday’s qualifying: we didn’t execute, and that compromised our chances. Still, l’m pleased to see Gabi bringing home strong 8 points for the team, as that is what matters. On the whole, weve made solid progress since Barcelona: six consecutive races in the points speak for themselves. We’re firmly in the midfield fight now, and that’s a testament to the hard work from everyone trackside and back in Hinwil.

We’ll recharge during the summer break and come back ready to push to again.”

Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal
F1 Team KICK Sauber

“Today’s result is a testament to the resilience and determination of the entire team. Despite a challenging start to the weekend with reliability issues in FP1, the team pulled together and delivered an outstanding performance.

Today’s result marks our sixth consecutive race finishing in the points, an achievement that reflects the consistency and competitiveness we’ve been building throughout the season.

“Gabi’s drive was nothing short of exceptional. He secured P6 – his best result so far in his early Formula One career – and earned a well-deserved Driver of the Day award. Nico also showed incredible race craft, especially in the opening laps. Although he eventually finished P13, it was one of his strongest drives, and his performance deserves respect even if it didn’t end in points.

“This season has been defined by incredibly tight margins across the entire field, and we fully expect the second half to be just as fiercely competitive. Now it’s time for some well-deserved rest – both for everyone at the factory and for the team at the track. We’re already looking forward to the remainder of the season and the challenges that lie ahead.”


PHOTO GALLERY