When Gabriel Bortoleto relaxed back into his chair on the terrace of the Sauber hospitality unit in the lazing sunshine in Abu Dhabi to ponder his first season in Formula 1, the Brazilian looked very content.
It’s true that he was outscored quite convincingly by his team mate Nico Hulkenberg 51 points to 19, but it’s also true that Hulkenberg is 17 years his senior with experience from 250 Grands Prix. Bortoleto has just 24 races, wracked up this year alone.
So, it’s actually pretty impressive that the 21-year-old came out on top in the Qualifying head-to-head, showing he has impressive one-lap pace relative to a team mate that has become renowned as a very good qualifier who can deliver under pressure.
