Hulkenberg praises 'positive' relationship with teammate Bortoleto
Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg discussed his "very positive" relationship with teammate Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, praising the rookie for his "high-quality" talent.
"We are obviously competitive and we're supposed to beat each other, it's still important to have the human side as well."- Nico Hulkenberg
Hulkenberg described his relationship with the rookie driver as "positive", claiming that the duo have a friendly dynamic within the team.
The German driver has been in Formula 1 since 2010, and will have competed for 8 teams in 2026 when Sauber makes the switch to Audi next season.
Hulkenberg said: "I think it's a very good, very positive relationship. I think we have a lot of respect for each other.
"I think our relationship is very good and professional, but we also have a lot of fun together at the same time, which is important to have a good dynamic with your teammates.
"While we are obviously competitive and we're supposed to beat each other, it's still important to have the human side as well, to have fun with each other because that also sets the tone for the team and makes the whole team environment and vibe better.
"Obviously, we are at very different points in our careers. It reminds me a lot of 2010, when I started, and Rubens Barrichello was the experienced one, so there are quite a few similarities there.
"Gabi's one of the most promising rookies I've seen in a long, long time. He's very high quality, an extremely fast learner, and extremely quick.
"And I think if he continues like this, he will have a very positive and successful career."
The young Brazilian driver is set for his debut race on home soil at Interlagos this weekend, with high hopes for Sunday.
Hulkenberg praised the 21-year-old's race craft, claiming that he has incredible speed and the ability to learn quickly.
Bortoleto currently sits in 18th place in the Drivers' Standings, but hopes to build on the momentum of scoring a point in Mexico City.
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