The Components 1 grid heads to the Styrian hills this week for the Austrian Grand Prix, the primary race of a double-header that can deliver the circuit to the historic Silverstone circuit subsequent weekend for the British Grand Prix.
At Sauber, the staff is hoping that some upgrades for the C45 will assist them hold the “momentum” going from the previous two races.
Veteran driver Nico Hülkenberg completed within the factors at each the Spanish Grand Prix and the Canadian Grand Prix, along with his fifth-place end in Barcelona punctuated by a final-lap overtake of Lewis Hamilton. Hülkenberg adopted that with an eighth-place end in Montreal.
Now, the staff is introducing some new parts for his or her challenger in Austria.
“Our performances in Spain and Canada have been encouraging and replicate the course we now have been working in the direction of, each on observe and on the manufacturing facility. Austria presents a possibility to construct on this momentum with some new components being launched from the primary apply session,” mentioned Group Principal Jonathan Wheatley within the staff’s media preview.
“Spielberg is without doubt one of the shorter Components One circuits, so margins might be tight, even by this season’s very shut efficiency numbers,” added Wheatley. “There may be nonetheless loads of work forward of us and the staff is staying targeted on execution, taking each alternative to construct, step-by-step, on the progress remodeled the previous couple of weeks.”
Hülkenberg described the previous two races as a “average step ahead” for the staff.
“It’s all the time an amazing environment racing in Austria — the setting is exclusive and there’s a good power across the occasion. The final couple of weekends have marked a average step ahead for us, and issues are beginning to really feel a bit extra in place,” started Hülkenberg.
“This weekend we now have some new components on the automotive, so the important thing might be understanding how they behave and increase via the classes. We are going to additional concentrate on staying on prime of particulars and put the whole lot collectively, like we now have been doing just lately, to open yet one more likelihood to come back awaywith one thing once more.”
Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto has but to complete within the factors this season, however the 2024 F2 Drivers’ Champion captured the Function race at Crimson Bull Ring final season. He additionally delivered his finest qualifying efficiency two races in the past, as he certified twelfth for the Spanish Grand Prix.
“I’m actually wanting ahead to Spielberg: I just like the observe and it’s general a cool place to race,” mentioned Bortoleto. “The final couple of occasions have been encouraging for the staff and have proven the progress we now have been making: I’m hungry to ship a powerful results of my very own, too.
This weekend, it’s about moving into a great rhythm from the beginning and profiting from what we’re bringing,” added the Sauber rookie. “The staff has been working actually laborious each behind the scenes and on-track, and I’m eager to construct on the progress made to date.”