F1 fans agree with Lando Norris’ stunned reaction after hearing what Gabriel Bortoleto told him in the Saudi Arabia media pen

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Out of all of the rookies on the grid in Formula 1 this season, Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto is the racer who has been further out of the spotlight.

Gabriel Bortoleto is one of four drivers who is still yet to score a point in 2025.

Sauber were the slowest team in the paddock last season, but new driver Nico Hulkenberg helped them beat their points tally from 2024 during the opening race of the season in Australia.

However, that result was an anomaly, with Hulkenberg benefiting from the unbelievably difficult conditions that caught out plenty of drivers, including Bortoleto.

Fans got to see how bad Sauber’s car was at the Chinese Grand Prix, when both drivers slipped off the track on the opening lap.

Since then, Sauber have never been in contention to score points, and Pierre Gasly’s P7 finish in Bahrain pushed them to the bottom of the constructors’ championship.

At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, both cars went out in Q1, and Bortoleto is now the worst qualifier on the grid, with an average starting position of 17.2.

A first-lap safety car after the collision between Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly gave Sauber the opportunity to try and Hail Mary strategy that left Lando Norris stunned when he heard about it.

READ MORE: Who is 2025 Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto? Everything you need to know

Gabriel Bortoleto’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix strategy leaves F1 fans stunned

After the race, Bortoleto and Norris were spotted together in the F1 media pen.

A picture of the pair was both on social media with the caption, ‘Lando’s reaction when Gabriel told him he’d done the whole race on a hard tyre,’ and the McLaren driver looks like he can’t believe what he’s being told.

Journalist Julianne Cerasoli posted on X after the race to confirm, “I asked Gabriel later and that was the conversation!”

Plenty of Brazilian Formula 1 fans reacted to the photo of Norris and Bortoleto together and expressed their feelings around how Sauber’s recent decision making.

One fan commented, “In every race he always has a different strategy than most…”

Another comment read, “This strategy didn’t make any sense today, they could have at least put a soft tyre on at the end just to have a bit of fun.”

One supporter said, “I understood Sauber’s strategy at the beginning and it was even working when they gained position, but why didn’t they change it later? It didn’t do any good other than making Gabriel push the car until the end.”

Another fan pointed out, “The car is bad, the strategies are not the best either, but he is not making a loss, he is finishing the races, and this time at Sauber will serve as a learning experience, better than staying as a reserve driver or not even getting a spot in F1, his time with a good car will come.”

One F1 fan at least looked on the bright side for Bortoleto and explained, “If there is anything positive in this bad moment, it is that he is completing the tests, gaining mileage, proving situations that can occur again, as a riskier strategy to jump ahead and hold on later.”

Another comment also praised the Brazilian and said, “It’s not a matter of passing the buck, but he was a real warrior and took the fight to the end.”

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Gabriel Bortoleto told how he can guarantee his Formula 1 future after difficult start to 2025

F1 Oversteer exclusively revealed that Sauber are happy with Bortoleto and the Brazilian rookie has so far exceeded their expectations.

He’s outqualifed his teammate already this season, and while points have never looked like a realistic target, it has to be remembered that multiple F1 Grand Prix winner Valtteri Bottas also failed to record a top 10 finish across the entirely of 2024 with the team.

Bortoleto might have to beat Hulkenberg this year if he wishes to guarantee his place on the grid ahead of Audi’s full takeover in 2026.

That’s going to be tough after the German benefited from the freak result in Australia at the start of the year, but all it takes is another downpour for Bortoleto to potentially get his revenge.