In a paddock famous for combustible pairings, Sauber’s garage is quietly running like a Swiss watch.
Team boss Jonathan Wheatley, who’s seen more driver dynamics than most over 35 years in Formula 1, reckons Nico Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto are about as close and collaborative as it gets. That’s not throwaway praise from a man who’s worked through Vettel/Webber and Verstappen/Ricciardo at Red Bull, plus stints with Alonso, Fisichella, Schumacher and Herbert. This is his first season running a team, and even he sounds a touch surprised by how well Hinwil’s new duo mesh.
“The closest, most collaborative driver pairing I can remember in all my time in Formula 1,” Wheatley said after Hungary, where Bortoleto banked a career-best sixth. Big call, but the evidence is there. Sauber’s C45 has crept from midfield anonymity to regular points, culminating in Hülkenberg’s first-ever F1 podium at Silverstone — the team’s first since 2012. The numbers reflect the momentum: Hülkenberg sits ninth in the standings on 37 points, Bortoleto 17th with 14, and climbing.
Wheatley’s enthusiasm for the balance is clear. Bortoleto brings the sponge-like curiosity of a reigning F2 champion; Hülkenberg adds the mileage and patience of a veteran who’s seen every trick in the book. “Gabriel has a fantastic work ethic,” Wheatley said. “He’s proving every way to be the future star we expected, and Nico is part of that journey with him.” He also noted the German’s usual under-the-radar graft in Hungary, where the pace didn’t translate into points but the process still mattered.
There’s a longer play here too. With limited mileage under his belt and several circuits still new to him, Bortoleto is learning in public — and quickly. Wheatley expects the second half of the year to be kinder, the adaptation curve sharper. If that’s true, Sauber’s steady rise could stick just as the team morphs into Audi at season’s end.
The drivers are singing from the same hymn sheet. Hülkenberg admits he didn’t know much about his new teammate before this season, but he’s impressed by the speed and application. “Very young, very bright, very fast,” he said. “We get along really well, but we push each other. It’s competitive, and it’s in the interest of the team.”
Bortoleto, meanwhile, hasn’t been shy about Hülkenberg’s role in his own acceleration. He praised the German’s qualifying craft and felt the long-awaited podium was overdue. “We work very well together,” he said. “Being able to fight there every weekend shows I’m doing a good job.”
If Audi wanted a foundation — harmony plus hard edges — they’ve got it. Sauber’s not making a fuss about it, but the rest of the midfield has definitely noticed.
