Sauber F1 sees real progress in 2025 as Jonathan Wheatley’s leadership, strategic upgrades, and rapid pit stops push the team forward competitively.
Sauber’s rapid progress has coincided with Jonathan Wheatley’s arrival at the helm of the team.
Notably, in Barcelona, Sauber recorded the fastest pit stop. During his tenure as sporting director at Red Bull, the Milton Keynes team was consistently the quickest in the pit lane, with operational precision in this area being a top priority for Wheatley.
This feat came on the same weekend that Nico Hülkenberg secured Sauber’s best result—a fifth place—coinciding with the introduction of a major upgrade to the C45.
“The stop was superb! The team is getting better and better in that area and, of course, I’m trying to instill what I’ve learned over the years. But the guys were already making great strides since last year, even before I arrived. And as for the upgrades, I was delighted that they met our expectations, and the drivers’ feedback was consistent,” commented Jonathan Wheatley.
“We had a real race car. It’s the first time I’ve felt that since I arrived, and it’s a fantastic feeling. I’m trying to enjoy the moment a bit before diving into the next race!”
“There’s so much hard work and passion in this team, and I hope we can use that as a springboard for the roadmap we’ve laid out towards our goals. I hope we can keep this momentum going.”
“It’s a huge relief, because we know what we’re capable of. We haven’t had much luck, a few small issues here and there, and it wouldn’t have been our first point since Melbourne, you know? The energy within the team is fantastic. It only makes us stronger.”
The team made changes to its floor and engine cover, as well as adjustments to its front wing endplate to align with the new static load tests introduced in Spain.
Asked about the extent of Sauber’s lap time gain from the improvements, or whether those gains were masked by the stiffer front wings, Wheatley said: “I think we really need to focus on the long runs to get an accurate picture.”
“But I said we needed at least a tenth of a second to get into the fight with the others. That’s what it’s about. In the past, when you installed an upgrade, you hoped to gain half a second. But everything is so tight.”
“How many times have we missed Q2 by a hundredth of a second? So, every performance gain you bring to the car makes a difference, and honestly, the best strategy is to have the fastest car.”