P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Nico Hulkenberg dismissed notions that he’ll be a mentor to Sauber team-mate and Formula 1 rookie Gabriel Bortoleto in 2025.
Sauber selected Gabriel Bortoleto to join Nico Hulkenberg as a driver in November, following his triumph in the 2024 Formula 2 season. Bortoleto’s victory in Abu Dhabi marked him as a two-time rookie champion, following esteemed drivers like Hamilton and Leclerc. Hulkenberg, with 227 Grand Prix starts, expressed his view in a conversation with Motorsport Week, indicating a priority on personal performance over mentoring his new teammate. Rather than mentoring, Hulkenberg aims to focus on surpassing his team-mate in the upcoming F1 season, setting up a competitive dynamic between the two drivers at Sauber. Bortoleto faces the challenge of matching his experienced team-mate on the track. Hulkenberg’s return to Sauber during the 2024 post-season test showed promising results, with the German outpacing Bortoleto by approximately nine-tenths. Looking ahead to 2025, Hulkenberg expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming challenges and collaboration within the team.
