2025 British Grand Prix – Friday

Silverstone, 4 July 2025 – Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber headed out on the hallowed ground of the Silverstone Circuit for the first day of track action at the British Grand Prix. On a sunny but very windy day, the driving trio of Nico Hulkenberg, Gabriel Bortoleto and Paul Aron – the Estonian standing in for Nico in FP1 as part of the mandated young drivers’ sessions – worked on preparing the car for the weekend ahead.

The team will now review the data collected in the two opening sessions, with the aim of fine-tuning the set-up of the C45s ahead of tomorrow’s crucial qualifying session.

Nico Hulkenberg (car number 27):
FP1: Did not participate
FP2: 17th / 1:27.165 (29 laps)

"It was quite an unusual Friday for me, getting a feel both inside and outside the car. The conditions were very windy and gusty—it didn’t feel fantastic, but it was the same for everyone. I was quite happy with the feeling I had straight away in FP2. All things considered, it was a solid session and a good foundation for us to build on. Now it’s heads down, full focus, and time to keep pushing."

Gabriel Bortoleto (car number 5):
FP1: 20th / 1:28.397 (23 laps)
FP2: 13th / 1:26.904 (27 laps)

“Today was a positive day overall. We focused on understanding the balance of the car, and I was pleased with the direction we’re heading. Driving at Silverstone in a Formula One car is so enjoyable – it's such a rewarding track. That said, the conditions made things quite challenging. The wind gusts were strong and unpredictable, with a lot of tailwind in several sections, which made it tough to get the car properly settled. We’ll spend the evening fine-tuning a few areas to improve the setup, and we’ll look at what we can do better for tomorrow.”

Paul Aron (car number 97):
FP1: 17th / 1:28.142 (25 laps)
FP2: Did not participate

“Running with the team in FP1 was amazing. First of all, I want to give a massive thank you to Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber and to Alpine. It’s not often that two competitor teams allow a driver to have this kind of opportunity, and I’m truly grateful to both for making it happen. I felt I got up to speed much quicker than expected, and it was fantastic to be at a Formula One weekend knowing I would be driving: I haven’t felt that kind of adrenaline all year, not since I stopped racing in Formula 2.

“I was happy to complete my full run plan and contribute to the team’s work this weekend. In the end, I got a run on soft tyres and that was a very satisfying moment. I am proud I could provide useful data, and I feel this session benefited both parties. Any mileage in a Formula One car is valuable, especially for a young driver like me who is trying to make it onto the grid: of course, there’s pressure, but that’s part of what makes this level so special. After seeing how tricky the conditions were for all drivers out there, I reminded myself that rule number one in an FP1 session is not to damage the car. I’ve only had one day in the simulator with this car, so I focused on executing my plan and staying sharp.”