Bortoleto: Upgrades have put us in the fight

His Sauber teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, showed today there is pace for P10 in the car, while Bortoleto was P13, suggesting they are good for the ultra-tight midfield scrap.

He said after the first day of practice at Zandvoort: “It’s been a positive, straightforward day. Getting back in the car after the summer break, the feeling was good straight away, and I was happy with the balance throughout my laps.

"We made some encouraging steps in between the two sessions, and Saturday is about refining a bit more, getting into the best shape for qualifying, and making sure we do the best job we can.”

Earlier, talking to reporters at Zandvoort, Bortoleto revealed: “After Budapest, I had some time off with family, some relaxation. Went to Brazil, did some karting, some driving. Just had some time off with my family, recharged, and now ready for the rest of the season."

Bortoleto highlighted the progress his team has made since the opening rounds: “We have improved a lot since the beginning of the year. We brought some upgrades that worked well. The midfield is super tight.

"Half a tenth can put you out of Q3. Hopefully, we can keep this up. I think it's six consecutive points finishes for Sauber, and honestly, it's great to be fighting for something like this now.”

The Brazilian credited Austria as a key turning point: “It was not sudden. It’s a process. Austria was a track I like and the car suited it. We scored good points there and in the next races as well.”

This weekend marks Bortoleto’s first Formula 1 appearance at Zandvoort. “It’s difficult to predict. This weekend can be quite crazy with the weather. It’s a track I really like. The atmosphere, the crowd – for sure, in Formula 1 it's going to be crazy with Max here.”

Asked about the track’s unique challenges, he added: “I’m curious about the banking with the F1 car – it’s a different feeling I haven’t experienced this year yet. I did some sim laps to prepare and I’m looking forward to it.”