After Barcelona progress, Sauber F1 eyes strong Canada GP showing with Hülkenberg, Bortoleto and key car upgrades in focus.
After an unexpected fifth-place finish in Spain, Sauber F1 is aiming to replicate that result at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. Nico Hülkenberg hopes to confirm the progress made thanks to a series of upgrades that appear to be yielding satisfactory results.
“Barcelona marked a step in the right direction for us. The car was stronger, we worked well as a team, and we achieved the result we had worked hard for. A weekend like that lifts everyone’s spirits and brings renewed energy into the garage and for everyone back in Hinwil,” said Hülkenberg.
“Of course, we know there is still a gap to close, but we have made encouraging progress. The goal this weekend is to remain consistent, execute everything from the start, and maintain this level of performance. If we manage that, we will be able to fight in the midfield.”
Gabriel Bortoleto is still chasing his first points in Formula 1, and seeing a Sauber in the top five in Barcelona has boosted his motivation: “I’m looking forward to Montreal. It will be a new circuit for me to discover, and I’ve worked on the simulator between these races to better understand its limits.”
“We came out of Barcelona with encouraging feedback on the upgrades and their potential. Our performance showed that we are getting closer to our targets, even if there are still a few more steps to take.”
“For my part, Nico’s strong result has made me even hungrier. Now I can’t wait for the weekend to start. The key, as always, will be to stay focused and adapt to whatever comes our way, making the most of every opportunity.”
Jonathan Wheatley, Sauber’s team principal, outlines what the team needs to do to ensure that the progress seen in the last race can be confirmed on a circuit very different from Catalunya.
“We head to Montreal with renewed confidence and valuable feedback from our performance in Barcelona. While it confirms that the changes we made to the car are improving our competitiveness, we need to stay focused and make the most of every chance to score points,” Wheatley said.
“Montreal has its own demands, and we need to ensure the upgrades brought to Barcelona work on this track, adapting quickly and staying in the midfield mix. Our goal now is to translate the gains we’ve made into another solid performance, to stay sharp, and to keep building our momentum.”
