The Components 1 grid heads to the Styrian hills this week for the Austrian Grand Prix, the primary race of a double-header that may deliver the circuit to the historic Silverstone circuit subsequent weekend for the British Grand Prix.
At Sauber, the group is hoping that some upgrades for the C45 will assist them preserve 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 lead to Barcelona punctuated by a final-lap overtake of Lewis Hamilton. Hülkenberg adopted that with an eighth-place end in Montreal.
Now, the group is introducing some new parts for his or her challenger in Austria.
“Our performances in Spain and Canada had been encouraging and replicate the path now we have been working in direction of, each on observe and on the manufacturing unit. Austria presents a possibility to construct on this momentum with some new elements being launched from the primary apply session,” stated Staff Principal Jonathan Wheatley within the group’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 group is staying centered 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 group.
“It’s at all times an excellent ambiance racing in Austria — the setting is exclusive and there’s a good vitality 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 now we have some new elements on the automotive, so the important thing might be understanding how they behave and build up by the classes. We’ll additional give attention to staying on prime of particulars and put every little thing collectively, like now we have been doing lately, to open yet one more probability 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 greatest 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,” stated Bortoleto. “The final couple of occasions have been encouraging for the group and have proven the progress now we have been making: I’m hungry to ship a powerful results of my very own, too.
This weekend, it’s about stepping into a superb rhythm from the beginning and taking advantage of what we’re bringing,” added the Sauber rookie. “The group has been working actually exhausting each behind the scenes and on-track, and I’m eager to construct on the progress made thus far.”
