Monza has always been hallowed ground for motorsport, and this weekend the Italian Grand Prix gave Audi-owned Sauber plenty of reason to believe the future is bright. Gabriel Bortoleto, in his rookie season, delivered a composed and confident drive to eighth place, bringing home four more points and keeping the team firmly in the hunt in the pack of performers when it comes to Constructors’ standings. For a program in transition as it prepares for a full Audi works entry in 2026, every sign of growth matters — and Monza was proof of progress.
photos: Sauber Motorsport AG
Bortoleto’s run was a highlight for fans of the Four Rings. The Brazilian rookie avoided the early chaos and maximized his strategy in the second half of the race, showing both patience and pace. A late-race battle with Alex Albon on fresher tires and time stuck behind Pierre Gasly prevented an even higher-placed finish for Gabby, but P8 was still a strong reward for a weekend where the team showed genuine midfield pace. For a young driver carrying Audi’s long-term hopes, it was exactly the sort of confidence-building drive that hints at what’s to come.
On the other side of the garage, frustration ran high. Nico Hülkenberg’s race was over before it started, with a hydraulic failure forcing the veteran out on the formation lap. Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley admitted the issue was tough to swallow, but he praised the team’s resilience and highlighted the need to “rebuild, refocus, and push into the flyaways.” With 55 points now on the board and a season-defining run of eight overseas races ahead, Sauber and Audi continue to sharpen their edge. The road to 2026 is long, but every hard-earned point — especially at Monza — fuels the momentum.
Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal
“Sometimes it’s difficult to enjoy the job across both drivers when we face a situation like today, with Nico sidelined by a hydraulic issue that prevented him from starting. It’s something we need to fully understand and resolve.
“On the other side, Gabriel delivered a fantastic performance. He showed pace and composure on every lap, and while it was always going to be difficult to keep Albon behind on new mediums, getting stuck behind Gasly for a couple of laps ultimately made the difference. Nothing should be taken away from Gabriel’s drive – he scored valuable points, closed the gap to the team ahead, and can take a lot of confidence from his weekend. Overall, the performance gives us real encouragement as we rebuild, refocus, and push into the flyaways.”
Nico Hulkenberg (Car #27)
Race result: DNS
Fastest lap: n/a
Strategy & Pit Stops: Start (New Medium – DNS)
“Obviously it’s extremely frustrating if you don’t even get to start the race. We experienced hydraulic issues that forced us to retire the car on the formation lap, which we now need to properly investigate and understand in detail. That said, we’ve clearly seen there is performance in the car, which gives us encouragement. Monza is always a difficult place to overtake, so it’s hard to say where we would have ended up today. On the positive side, it was a good weekend for Gabi, who scored valuable points for the team.”
Gabriel Bortoleto (Car #5)
Race result: gth
Fastest lap: 1:22.139 (Lap 51)
Strategy & Pit Stops: Start (New Medium) – Lap 20 (New Hard)
“We had a very solid race, with good calls and good strategy. My pit stop was a bit slow, but I also put this on me, because I possibly arrived a bit too long in the pit box and it definitely didn’t help. Overall, I am happy to have finished eighth and have made it back in the points: this is also important for the Constructors’ Championship. I am obviously hungry for more, but I believe this is the best we could have achieved this weekend – it’s been a consistent, productive one, and a good way to close the European leg of the season.”
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/Sauber Motorsports AG
