2025 Austrian Grand Prix – Saturday

Spielberg, 28 June 2025 – Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber delivered the team’s best qualifying performance since Las Vegas 2023 as Gabriel Bortoleto set the eighth fastest time in a tight session at the Red Bull Ring. The C45 displayed the one-lap pace exhibited in practice to set the best Saturday result in Austria in a decade. Team-mate, Nico Hulkenberg, looked strong in his opening run, but a mistake in his final Q1 run compromised his performance, finishing 20th.

The team will now prepare for tomorrow’s race, with the two cars requiring very different approaches as they navigate the tight field from the top ten and the back of the grid, respectively.
 

Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal: "Our best qualifying result since Las Vegas 2023. Gabi put in a storming performance all through qualifying and built on that over and over to claim eighth on the grid for the race tomorrow. Nico looked good on the first run but ran wide at Turn Four and that’s the difference between Q1and Q2 in this incredibly tight season. I want to thank everyone back at the factory for getting the upgrades to the track in time. It's encouraging to see everyone in the team working hard and improving our performance.”

Nico Hulkenberg (car number 27):
FP3: 13th / 1:05.283 (18 laps)
Q1: 20th / 1:05.606 (9 laps)

“Definitely not the qualifying result I was expecting. Unfortunately, I made a mistake into Turn Four – I locked up the front right and ran wide, missing the apex. It was costly in terms of lap time, and obviously frustrating, especially knowing the potential we had in the car today. It’s disappointing, no doubt, but the recent progress we’ve made has been encouraging. Starting from the back tomorrow won’t be easy – traffic is guaranteed – but we know our car has decent race pace. We’ll go through all strategic options tonight and aim to fight our way back. Tomorrow is about maximising every opportunity and pushing hard to recover. Congrats to Gabi on his first Q3 appearance and P8 on the grid!”

Gabriel Bortoleto (car number 5):

FP3: 10th / 1:05.182 (18 laps)
Q1: 1:05.123 (9 laps)
Q2: 1:04.846 (6 laps)
Q3: 8th / 1:05.132 (6 laps)
 

"I am delighted to have made it into Q3 for the first time today. It’s been a great weekend so far, where everything came together just right. As a team, we have worked tirelessly, testing different setups, learning from both the successes and the setbacks, and consistently staying competitive. From the beginning of the season, I have believed in the potential of this team and our ability to keep improving, even when we were starting from a difficult position. Reaching Q3 for the first time - especially at a track that holds special meaning for me - is a fantastic milestone. It is a clear sign that all the effort, patience, and teamwork are paying off. I am proud of the progress we have made, but I also know the job is only halfway done: we must stay focused ahead of tomorrow, in order to keep up with the momentum and hopefully convert this qualifying result into my first points finish."