Nico Hülkenberg doesn't think he can mentor Gabriel Bortoleto this year at Sauber F1 as he returns to the team. His young teammate debutant will be a rival for him, and he reminds that he must prioritize his career above all else.
“I don't think when you're teammates you're really a mentor to the driver next to you, even if you're the oldest and most experienced.” replied Hulkenberg.
“But at the end of the day it's a competition, even if you're in the same team and racing for the team. I want to do a good job for Sauber, but also for myself and my own career. I So I'm looking forward to working there and taking on the challenge.”
Asked whether Sauber made the right choice in recruiting Bortoleto, the German salutes at least one CV that speaks for the Brazilian: “Only time will tell. But if you look at his CV it speaks in his favour. He won Formula 3 and Formula 2 as a rookie.”
“He knows where the accelerator is and seems to be learning quickly. Like many others, he starts next year as a beginner and has a lot to look forward to. I look forward to working with him and will support him in the as possible, because I want our team to grow as fast and as well as possible.”
-Hülkenberg himself is optimistic for the 2025 season after the progress of his new team at the end of 2024: “The example of Haas shows that it is possible, even in a short time. I also think that Sauber has already taken a first step in the right direction with the development of Las Vegas. It was an important correction .”
“In the last three races the car was clearly more competitive and closer to the pack. This is also the impression I had during testing. The base is not that bad. Of course, there is still a lot to do in the details and there are still a lot of things to optimize. The direction is clear.
