Sauber driver Nico Hülkenberg explains why he finished last in Q1 of Formula 1 qualifying at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg
A Sauber C45 made it into the top 10 in Formula 1 qualifying for the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, but it wasn’t Nico Hülkenberg’s car: The German was eliminated from the time trials in Q1 – in last place. He was 0.934 seconds off the lead and more than three tenths of a second off qualifying for the next round.
But how did this result come about when Hülkenberg’s Sauber teammate Gabriel Bortoleto was able to finish eighth in the sister car?
Hülkenberg explained in an interview with ORF: “I braked too late in turn 4 or tried too hard – whatever. I missed the apex, the wheel locked up and I lost a lot of time. It was simply my mistake. I threw everything away. And the consequence is that you’re last. Unfortunately, that’s very frustrating and very annoying.”
Hülkenberg didn’t just recognize the potential of the Sauber from Bortoleto’s top-10 lap: “It looked better. There’s not much more to say about it.”
Especially since Bortoleto didn’t start with a different setup, but with the same setup as Hülkenberg, as he confirmed when asked: “The settings are the same, but Gabi feels very, very comfortable here and is doing a great job so far. Every lap is spot on for him, and he just has a very good rhythm here on this track,” said Hülkenberg.
What’s still possible for Hülkenberg in the race
What can he do himself to get back on track, at least in the race? “I don’t know yet,” said Hülkenberg. He hasn’t thought that far ahead yet. He wants to review the strategic options with the team in the evening.
The prospects are bleak from 20th on the grid: “We’ll definitely be stuck in traffic, especially in the first part of the race. That’s guaranteed, so we have to think about what we can and want to do,” explains the German.
For him, it is “crystal clear” that Sauber “belongs further up the field than in last place.” That’s why he wants to “try everything, give it his all, and fight” on Sunday. Sauber looks “well set up” over the distance in particular.
“Of course, it’s frustrating and annoying to be last because of the mistake, but we will obviously try to make up as much as possible on Sunday,” says Hülkenberg.
How well the updates are working on the Sauber C45
Will the latest technical updates to his car help? Hülkenberg finds the new parts “difficult to judge” after just a few laps in Spielberg.
He says: “We need a little more time and maybe a different track. Austria is always super, super tight because of the short lap. A few hundredths make a huge difference here.”