After losing positions at the start, the Brazilian fought back with determination and composure to secure a well-deserved top-eight finish. On the other side of the garage, Nico Hulkenberg's race came to an early end due to a gearbox issue, resulting in retirement. Despite the mixed outcome, the result marks another important step forward for the team, underlining the progress made in recent races and providing further encouragement ahead of the next round at Spa-Francorchamps.
Allan McNish, Racing Director: "Overall, it's been a very rewarding race day for the team here at Silverstone. Scoring our first points since Melbourne is a significant milestone and a reflection of the hard work, patience and determination everyone has shown over a long period of time. We believed that if we kept executing well and continued to develop, the result would come, and today it did.
"Gabi recovered brilliantly after losing positions at the start, fighting back strongly to finish eighth. It was a composed and determined drive, and a result that everyone at the factory and trackside can be proud of.
"On the other side of the garage, it was disappointing to lose Nico with a gearbox issue after what had been a promising weekend. That makes it something of a bittersweet afternoon as he also had great pace, but taking more points is an important step forward for the whole team. We'll enjoy this moment, take the positives from the weekend, and immediately turn our attention to Spa-Francorchamps."
Nico Hulkenberg (Car 27):
Race result: DNF
Fastest lap: 1:33.433 (Lap 36)
Strategy & Pit Stops: Start (New Medium) - Lap 17 (New Hard) - Lap 34 (New Soft)
"It's been a character-building weekend, and it ended in a frustrating way for us today. From the start, things didn't quite come together – something already felt off on the laps to the grid, and the launch itself wasn't where it needed to be - clearly an area that needs attention on our side.
"In the race, I had to push early on in dirty air and had a small spin, which made tyre management difficult, and we then had a gearbox issue that ultimately forced us to retire.
"On the positive side, it's great to see Gabi scoring points – that's a really strong result for him and for the team, and it shows the potential we have when things come together.
"The competition is very tight, and while we've been close at times, we haven't quite managed to convert those opportunities. Momentum can swing quickly in this sport, and I'm confident it will come our way again - we just need to keep working, stay focused, and keep pushing as a team."
Gabriel Bortoleto (Car 5)
Race result: 8th
Fastest lap: 1:33.650 (Lap 30)
Strategy & Pit Stops: Start (New Medium) - Lap 26 (New Hard) - Lap 47 (New Soft)
"I'm really pleased with today's result: the team truly deserves it. We have been through a few races without scoring points, and that has been tough when you can see the potential in the car but haven't been able to convert it into something concrete - so this surely is a big boost for everyone. Today, we finally showed why we're here and what our true pace is. Realistically, I think P8 reflects where we currently stand at the moment.
"It's been a long weekend: we were almost out in Q1 yesterday, and today's outcome could have been completely different had we started from further down the grid. The team did an incredible job to get everything together, put the car in the right window, and then deliver both a strong qualifying session and a solid race. I'm really happy for everyone both trackside, in Hinwil and Neuburg: everyone worked so hard for it, and this further proves the step made with our most recent package."
