Sauber left the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix with two contrasting storylines. Nico Hülkenberg delivered one of the team’s strongest drives of the season to secure seventh place after post-race disqualifications, while rookie Gabriel Bortoleto’s Turn 1 error triggered a multi-car collision and earned him a grid penalty for Qatar.
The result brings Sauber within striking distance of Haas in the constructors’ championship with two races remaining.
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Hülkenberg executes a clean plan and finishes ahead of Hamilton
Starting 11th on hard tyres, Hülkenberg committed to a long opening stint and managed the early traffic with patience and precision. Sauber’s strategy allowed him to pit at the optimal moment, emerging ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari and holding the position to the end.
Sauber initially finished ninth on the road. With both McLarens disqualified after scrutineering, Hülkenberg was promoted to seventh, giving the team valuable points for the third time in four races.
Hülkenberg said:
“We managed to pick up some more points today and we probably couldn’t have done any better so we can be very happy.”
“My first stint on the hard tyre went well. Managing the tyres in the close combat at the beginning was tough but I managed to get it done.”
His consistent late-season form has been central to Sauber’s push toward the midfield.
Bortoleto’s Turn 1 misjudgment ends his race immediately
Bortoleto’s weekend unravelled seconds after the lights went out. Attempting to pass Alex Albon on the inside, he braked too late and locked up, sliding into the back of Lance Stroll and triggering a chain reaction. The crash forced his immediate retirement and earned him a five-place grid penalty for the next round in Qatar.
The Brazilian accepted responsibility without hesitation.
“Firstly, I want to apologise to Lance. It was my mistake. I had a good start and tried to dive on the inside, but I misjudged my braking by a few metres. By the time I realised it was too late.”
“It’s unfortunate. We were doing well up until qualifying, but a mistake on the first lap ruined the race for both of us.”
He also reflected on the impact of two consecutive retirements:
“Failing to finish the last two races has cost me experience that I could have gained. For the remaining two races, my top priority is to put together a clean weekend.”
Sauber moves within five points of Haas
Team principal Jonathan Wheatley said the weekend again highlighted the fine line between progress and missed opportunity.
“It was another make-or-break weekend for the team,” Wheatley noted. “It’s a shame that Gabi misjudged his braking point, but Nico put in a great performance on the other side of the garage.”
The Las Vegas result brings Sauber’s tally to 64 points, narrowing the gap to Haas in seventh to just five points heading into Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
After a season of inconsistencies, Sauber now has a realistic chance of climbing two positions in the constructors’ championship if both drivers deliver clean and competitive performances.
