A chaotic first lap wrecked both Sauber cars’ races, leaving the Swiss team frustrated but focused ahead of the next triple-header.
It was a weekend to forget for Sauber at the Chinese Grand Prix, as early incidents derailed both drivers’ races before they could truly begin.
Gabriel Bortoleto had a rough start, spinning and sliding through the gravel on the opening lap. He was forced to pit immediately for fresh tyres, putting him on the back foot from the get-go. Meanwhile, Nico Hülkenberg also hit trouble early. A big snap of oversteer in Turn 3 saw him run wide over the kerbs and gravel, causing damage that severely compromised the car’s aerodynamic performance for the rest of the race.
“Unfortunately, our race was basically decided on the first lap,” said Beat Zehnder, Sauber’s Sporting Director. “Nico nearly lost the car completely but managed to keep it on track. Still, he picked up damage that really hurt his pace. Credit to him for pushing through to the end despite the tough conditions.”
Bortoleto’s early spin also ended any hopes of a strong finish. “He was fighting with Bearman when he lost downforce and spun, which cost him valuable time and forced an early tyre change,” Zehnder added. “From there, it was always going to be a tough climb back. But the positive is that his pace in the final stint on hard tyres was competitive with our midfield rivals.”
Despite the setbacks, there were a few bright spots for the team. Both cars reached the finish line, the car’s pace throughout the weekend showed promise, and the team executed operations smoothly—even with the added pressure from the Sprint incident.
“There’s still a lot of work ahead. The midfield is incredibly tight, and every tiny gain counts,” Zehnder concluded. “The team that finds those tenths first will move forward. We need to keep pushing hard.”
With Shanghai behind them, Sauber now shifts focus to the Japanese Grand Prix, using the short break to regroup, learn, and come back stronger for the upcoming triple-header.
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Sauber Setbacks Shadow Promising Pace in China
Sauber Setbacks Shadow Promising Pace in China
