Latest news with #GabrielBortoleto
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How Jonathan Wheatley wants Sauber to use F1 podium momentum in Audi transformation
Jonathan Wheatley says he is relishing the chance to carry Sauber's mid-season momentum into 2026, as the team transitions into the Audi Formula 1 outfit. Wheatley officially joined Sauber in April after leaving Red Bull and has already overseen steady improvements during his short tenure as team principal. Advertisement At the Austrian Grand Prix, Gabriel Bortoleto finished eighth and scored his first points in F1, while a major payday came at the British GP where Nico Hulkenberg claimed his first podium in 239 F1 starts by finishing third – marking Sauber's first podium since 2012. Wheatley says he is looking to build on that form as the team prepares for its transformation into an Audi-run operation next season. When asked by at the Goodwood Festival of Speed about the team's progress, he joked: 'I don't think I've achieved much, to be honest, except for a successful move to Switzerland! 'No, it's been wonderful working with the team. Obviously, Matteo [Binotto, Sauber's COO] put a huge amount of work in before I arrived, and so got the ball was rolling from that point. Advertisement 'It's been great to just absorb myself in the team and try to understand how it works, to add a little bit of guidance here and there, and now, when I sat on the pitwall at Silverstone, it really feels like it's coming together. Watch: Why Bortoleto Is Already Confident About Audi's 2026 F1 Potential 'My first race was Suzuka and the Japanese GP [in April]. I've done 10 races in 13 weeks or something like that. It's been it's been quite a period of time. I think from the moment we brought the first upgrade to the car, you could see the confidence in the drivers all of a sudden, they could push the car, they could string together consecutive qualifying laps, and it puts us in a position where we can maximise our advantage. 'There's a lot of work going on before I got here, and I don't want to stand here and take credit for things. It's a huge team at work here. They made the big steps in terms of equipment but also coaching confidence in the crew and things like pitstops, which are a manifestation of team spirit. When you see a team relaxed delivering good pitstops, that's a happy team.' Advertisement As F1 teams prepare for the biggest regulation change in its history with new chassis and engine rules, Wheatley knows that despite having Audi's backing the team faces a serious challenge in overhauling the traditional frontrunners. However, he says that challenge was what lured him away from Red Bull to join the Audi project, which he believes is one of the most exciting developments in F1. 'It was a year ago, almost to the day, where I had my job interview. I drove from here at Goodwood to Southampton Airport where I met with Audi and we discussed the project. I've been on the hook ever since,' he said. 'I grew up watching Audi Quattros smashing through the forest with flames coming out of the exhaust! Audi always did it differently and it's fantastic to be part of that journey. It is probably the biggest thing in our sport at the moment. The greatest good news story in sport. It's fantastic for F1 and everyone should be excited about it. Advertisement Oliver Hoffmann, Head of Technical Development at Audi Sport GmbH, with Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG, with the new Audi Sport concept car Oliver Hoffmann, Head of Technical Development at Audi Sport GmbH, with Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG, with the new Audi Sport concept car 'We have to be humble about the challenge that we face. It's going to be tough to get to the same level as the established teams, and to smash through that level requires a level of momentum. 'But I firmly believe we're going to be there. We're on the road already. We've put ourselves in a position where we were able to capitalise on some wet-weather situations. 'Very soon I'm going to have four rings on a shirt, and I'm going to be the happiest team principal in F1.' Read Also: Sauber opens new technology centre ahead of Audi F1 takeover To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How Jonathan Wheatley wants Sauber to use F1 podium momentum in Audi transformation
Jonathan Wheatley says he is relishing the chance to carry Sauber's mid-season momentum into 2026, as the team transitions into the Audi Formula 1 outfit. Wheatley officially joined Sauber in April after leaving Red Bull and has already overseen steady improvements during his short tenure as team principal. Advertisement At the Austrian Grand Prix, Gabriel Bortoleto finished eighth and scored his first points in F1, while a major payday came at the British GP where Nico Hulkenberg claimed his first podium in 239 F1 starts by finishing third – marking Sauber's first podium since 2012. Wheatley says he is looking to build on that form as the team prepares for its transformation into an Audi-run operation next season. When asked by at the Goodwood Festival of Speed about the team's progress, he joked: 'I don't think I've achieved much, to be honest, except for a successful move to Switzerland! 'No, it's been wonderful working with the team. Obviously, Matteo [Binotto, Sauber's COO] put a huge amount of work in before I arrived, and so got the ball was rolling from that point. Advertisement 'It's been great to just absorb myself in the team and try to understand how it works, to add a little bit of guidance here and there, and now, when I sat on the pitwall at Silverstone, it really feels like it's coming together. Watch: Why Bortoleto Is Already Confident About Audi's 2026 F1 Potential 'My first race was Suzuka and the Japanese GP [in April]. I've done 10 races in 13 weeks or something like that. It's been it's been quite a period of time. I think from the moment we brought the first upgrade to the car, you could see the confidence in the drivers all of a sudden, they could push the car, they could string together consecutive qualifying laps, and it puts us in a position where we can maximise our advantage. 'There's a lot of work going on before I got here, and I don't want to stand here and take credit for things. It's a huge team at work here. They made the big steps in terms of equipment but also coaching confidence in the crew and things like pitstops, which are a manifestation of team spirit. When you see a team relaxed delivering good pitstops, that's a happy team.' Advertisement As F1 teams prepare for the biggest regulation change in its history with new chassis and engine rules, Wheatley knows that despite having Audi's backing the team faces a serious challenge in overhauling the traditional frontrunners. However, he says that challenge was what lured him away from Red Bull to join the Audi project, which he believes is one of the most exciting developments in F1. 'It was a year ago, almost to the day, where I had my job interview. I drove from here at Goodwood to Southampton Airport where I met with Audi and we discussed the project. I've been on the hook ever since,' he said. 'I grew up watching Audi Quattros smashing through the forest with flames coming out of the exhaust! Audi always did it differently and it's fantastic to be part of that journey. It is probably the biggest thing in our sport at the moment. The greatest good news story in sport. It's fantastic for F1 and everyone should be excited about it. Advertisement Oliver Hoffmann, Head of Technical Development at Audi Sport GmbH, with Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG, with the new Audi Sport concept car Oliver Hoffmann, Head of Technical Development at Audi Sport GmbH, with Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG, with the new Audi Sport concept car 'We have to be humble about the challenge that we face. It's going to be tough to get to the same level as the established teams, and to smash through that level requires a level of momentum. 'But I firmly believe we're going to be there. We're on the road already. We've put ourselves in a position where we were able to capitalise on some wet-weather situations. 'Very soon I'm going to have four rings on a shirt, and I'm going to be the happiest team principal in F1.' Read Also: Sauber opens new technology centre ahead of Audi F1 takeover To read more articles visit our website.
Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
TV Globo regains F1 broadcast rights in Brazil from 2026
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox TV Globo has recovered the exclusive broadcast rights for Formula One in Brazil in a three-year deal from 2026 after being absent since 2020, the sport announced on Friday. The broadcaster held the rights for more than 40 years until Bandeirantes took over in 2021. The deal will give Brazilian fans free-to-air live access to 15 of the 24 races while the remainder will be on Globo's pay channel, sportv. No financial details were given. With 20-year-old Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, last year's Formula Two champion, Brazil has a full-time Formula One driver on the grid this season for the first time since Felipe Massa retired in 2017. Brazil, home country of world champions Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet and the late Ayrton Senna, also has the only South American round of the championship with a race at Sao Paulo's Interlagos circuit. REUTERS
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Heartwarming moment Nico Hulkenberg returns home to glamorous wife and child throwing huge party for first ever podium
NICO HULKENBERG was welcomed home to a huge party thrown by his stunning wife after claiming his first-ever F1 podium. The German, 37, enjoyed more champagne celebrations after finishing third behind both McLaren drivers at the British Grand Prix on Sunday. 9 9 9 9 9 Hulkenberg climbed through the field from 19th on the rain-swept grid to beat Lewis Hamilton to third, with Lando Norris winning his first home race. The Kick Sauber, who made his debut with Williams in 2010, set a 15-year record for the longest time before finishing on the podium at 5,593 days. He was swarmed by his team at Parc Ferme after securing a podium on his 239th attempt, while also sharing a hug with rookie team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto, who had crashed out earlier on. But more celebrations were in order after returning from Silverstone, as Hulkenberg walked into a family party put on by his glam wife Egle. An Instagram clip shared by his Lithuanian fashion designer other-half shows Hulkenberg walking into a room full of his closest loved ones. Egle instantly cuddles him in the video, before their young daughter Noemi Sky, four, holds onto her parents legs. The F1 driver later bent down to stroke family dog Zeus, who was excitedly running under them all. The couple's friends then broke out singing an edited version of Will Grigg's on Fire, changing the name to "Nico's on Fire". Hulkenberg also picked up his daughter to dance with her to the funny chant. The F1 driver reportedly travelled home from the UK on Max Verstappen 's private jet, after the Red Bull superstar invited him on. Both drivers, like most of the grid, live in Monaco and are about to start a three week break ahead of the Belgium Grand Prix on July 27. Hulkenberg was one of three drivers presented with unique Lego Brick trophies after the race alongside McLaren pair Norris and Oscar Piastri. Egle reportedly has a net worth of £3.9million through her hand-crochet fashion company named after her. She stole the show at the premiere of F1: The Movie last month after going braless in a daring outfit. The happy couple have been together since 2015 and were married in 2021 after getting in engaged in Venice in 2020. Hulkenberg has moved up to ninth in the drivers' world championship, after finishing in the top 10 in his last four races. 9 9 9 9
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Drivers praise Hülkenberg for maiden Formula One podium
German Formula 1 driver Nico Huelkenberg of Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber celebrates finishing third after the British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit. Bradley Collyer/PA Wire/dpa Fifteen years after his Formula One debut, Nico Hülkenberg finally scored his maiden podium at his 239th race. The Kick Sauber driver ended his podium drought with the help of a clever team strategy at the British Grand Prix on Sunday. Advertisement But achievement was even more impressive because he started 19th on the grid and had to fight hard to hold-off nine-time Silverstone winner Lewis Hamilton. Team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto led the rounds of deserved praise saying: "Seeing him fight for the podium and achieve this result after so many years in F1 means a lot. He is the best team-mate I have ever worked with – both as a driver and as a person – and he absolutely deserves this moment." Four-time defending champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull greeted Hülkenberg during the cool-down lap and was swift to go over to him in parc feme to shake hands. "The race wasn't that enjoyable for me but it was nice to see Nico get his first podium and I'm sure he will be celebrating tonight," said Verstappen, who could only manage a fifth place after spinning on track and dropping to 10th. Advertisement Williams' Carlos Sainz, a former team-mate of Hülkenberg at Renault in 2018, said that the German has always been a top-five driver in the grid." "Honestly, for me, the fact that people kept cursing him, the fact that he didn't have any podiums, for me it was completely irrelevant. His level of talent and race execution is incredible," he added. Hamilton, who chased Hülkenberg in his Ferrari in the closing stages of the race, was disappointed, but happy for the Kick Sauber driver. "Third place felt within reach at times but credit to Nico on his first podium, he drove a strong race. It's a great achievement for him and his team." The Mercedes team gifted Sauber several bottles of champagne to aid in the celebrations, while Aston Martin reportedly also made a contribution.
