Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley revealed he sent a message to McLaren during the race about his driver Gabriel Bortoleto.

McLaren’s Lando Norris caught Bortoleto during the final laps of the race while the Sauber driver was trying to pass Fernando Alonso for seventh place. The time Bortoleto lost being lapped by the race leader thwarted his efforts to pass Alonso.

Wheatley revealed he sent a message to McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown during the race hoping to avoid being lapped.

“I was texting Zak and saying ‘don’t un-lap [i.e., lap] us’ during the race because I think we had a better shot with Gabi,” he told Channel 4.

Bortoleto’s inability to pass Alonso did not prevent him scoring the first points of his F1 career with eighth place. Nico Hulkenberg’s ninth place gave Sauber their first double points finish since Wheatley took charge earlier this year.

The former Red Bull sporting director said his new team’s pit stops had been “flawless” and there was “real confidence” at Sauber now. “For me this momentum is what we need at the moment.”

Alonso admitted he had been “a little bit lucky” that Norris caught and lapped Bortoleto when he did. “When Gabi came with a lot better pace, I had Norris with the blue flags and Gabi could not attack me on the last lap.

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“Then the race was one lap shorter because [by] letting Norris go, the next lap we saw the chequered flag. So all in all it was a perfect combo for us.”

The Aston Martin driver, who is also Bortoleto’s manager, was thrilled with his first points finish. “It’s incredible,” said Alonso, “I’m happy for him.

“Gabi was outstanding the whole season. For one reason or other I think Hulkenberg was then scoring the points on Sunday, but I think he deserved maybe before this one to score already points.

“But I hope for him it’s the first of many. First points in Formula 1, they taste always very special.”

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