'The maximum available' – Hulkenberg offers verdict on Sauber's Las Vegas GP result

Nico Hulkenberg believes Kick Sauber achieved "the maximum available possible" after securing a points finish during the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The German utilised the hard tyre in the opening stint compared with many who used the medium rubber, running long before pitting and eventually finishing ninth on the road, having started P11.

Hulkenberg was promoted to seventh in the final classification due to McLaren's double disqualification, helping Sauber move to within five points of Haas in the Teams' Championship, two positions further ahead in P7.

"That was the maximum available possible," said Hulkenberg, who recorded back-to-back points finishes.

"Everyone ahead of us... was potentially even slightly quicker, so I think there was not much more we could have done.

"Obviously, a solid or pretty straightforward one-stop for everybody, a typical low-deg race with not much action."

"It's still a long shot [to beat Haas] because Haas usually is competitive too. I'm not sure about Doha – a very fast, flowing track.

"I'm not sure about our car and how happy it will be there, but a Sprint weekend... just digest this one, regroup, and go again."

Team mate Gabriel Bortoleto's weekend by contrast was more challenging, the Brazilian having retired after two laps due to an opening corner collision with Lance Stroll, which also eliminated the Aston Martin.

The stewards deemed Bortoleto at fault, and handed the Formula 1 rookie a five-place grid penalty for the next race in Qatar this weekend.

"It was my fault. I think I just misjudged the grip that I had and where I was on track," said Bortoleto, who has now crashed out of the last three races.

"I had a very good launch and went for a move on the inside of the Williams, and when I put the car on the left-hand side of the Williams, it was already time to brake and I broke like five metres too late, then just arrived a bit too long in the corner.

“I had no angle to do the corner because I was completely on the inside, and just misjudged it. It was my fault.”