Rookie Bortoleto Impresses Despite Narrowly Missing Q2 in Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying
In a thrilling qualifying session for the Japanese Grand Prix, rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto showcased his talent by narrowly missing out on Q2 by just a tenth of a second. Despite starting from the 17th position on the grid, Bortoleto expressed satisfaction with his performance, highlighting that all his laps were solid and error-free.
The Sauber team, under the new leadership of Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley, faced challenges during qualifying as both their drivers failed to advance to Q2. Nico Hülkenberg, Bortoleto’s teammate, mentioned the difficulties faced with the car’s setup due to changing wind conditions and traffic on the track. Despite these obstacles, Bortoleto remained optimistic about his debut weekend in Japan, emphasizing the importance of analyzing data to improve as a team.
Reflecting on his qualifying performance, Bortoleto stated, “I missed out on Q2 by just a tenth, and all my laps were good, without mistakes. I finished quite close to my teammate, which is encouraging considering his speed and experience.” The Brazilian driver acknowledged that there were opportunities to make slight improvements to the car for the final tire run but expressed overall satisfaction with the team’s work throughout the weekend.
As the anticipation builds for the race day, Bortoleto’s positive attitude and determination to learn and grow as a driver will undoubtedly be on full display. Stay tuned for more updates as the young driver aims to make his mark in the Japanese Grand Prix.