Hulkenberg warned in F1 rookie comparison

Johnny Herbert believes Gabriel Bortoleto could prove quicker than team-mate Nico Hulkenberg when the Brazilian driver steps up to F1 next season.

The two will form the Stake line-up in the team's final Sauber season before transitioning to Audi for 2026, and Herbert has wagered there is a "good chance" Bortoleto follows in the footsteps of a fellow 2025 rookie.

The former F1 driver, who raced in the championship between 1989 and 2000, has drawn on the performance of Oliver Bearman, who has proven a match for Hulkenberg in the two grand prix they have been Haas team-mates for.

The 19-year-old has twice replaced Kevin Magnussen in recent rounds and scored points for the American team in Azerbaijan, whilst Hulkenberg did not.

The young Briton also out-qualified the German in Baku, before doing the same twice more over the sprint weekend in Brazil.

Herbert feels that Hulkenberg will be up against a similarly tough test with Bortoleto, who he has suggested could be the faster driver at Stake, despite it being his rookie campaign.

“He is going to be very on his game when he gets into an F1 car," the 60-year-old told Vision4Sport.

“We’ve seen it that when Bearman has gone in with Hulkenberg with Haas he has been very competitive and faster than him. There is a good chance Bortoleto will be the same. He might be the quickest driver in that team.

“It is really exciting, especially for Brazil. Felipe Massa was the last good Brazilian and now they have a good one. It is the latest in a long line of Brazilian talent.”

Time-honoured progression

Bortoleto, who won the FIA F3 championship at the first time of asking last season, is on track to go back-to-back with feeder category titles, in the same way Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Oscar Piastri did.

With just two rounds of the F2 season remaining, he leads Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar by four-and-a-half points.

Unsurprisingly, he has impressed heavily, and McLaren has let the Fernando Alonso-managed 20-year-old go in order for him to make the step to F1.

Herbert highlighted that his ability to consistently deliver, as he has done during his two seasons in the F1 support paddock, shows he has the right mentality and ability to succeed when he gets there.

“When I was coming through the route was getting into F3, making a statement and winning the championship then bang F2, the same, before getting into F1," he said.

"Gabriel is therefore following a time-honoured progression. He won F3 and has a good chance of winning the F2 championship this year. That is where you realise there’s something special there. To be able to jump in (to F2) straight away and win is the most impressive thing you can do as a young driver.

“Mentality-wise he seems to be very strong, and he delivers, not just once or twice but consistently. Consistency is something F1 teams really look at. The only way you get noticed is by being the man and being the best."

Do you think F1 should re-introduce the controversial double-points season finale concept from 2014? Let us know what you think by voting below in the latest poll by RacingNews365.