Sauber wins in aero and weight for Barcelona

The start of the season is difficult for Sauber F1 Team since Esteban Gutiérrez and Adrian Sutil did not win a single point after the first four Grands Prix. But the Swiss team is still far from giving up. Taking advantage of the three-week break before the start of the European season in Barcelona next weekend, the factory Hinwil worked hard to improve the performance of the C33 in order to return to its level of the previous season, hoping to achieve faster development than its opponents.

If work on aerodynamics was essential during the break, Sauber F1 Team also focused on the weight of its cars while Adrian Sutil often said he was penalized by his larger size than the average driver. “The two C33s will have new features at the Spanish Grand Prix with a significant reduction in weight and major aerodynamic developments”, confirms Giampaolo Dall'Ara, director of track engineering. “The developments include a modified front wing, a new engine cover, new sidepods and redesigned deflectors, not to mention other changes. Beyond all this, we have also made progress on the software, which will allow us to better exploit the power of the engine. »

However, Sauber F1 Team is aware that these improvements are not enough to guarantee a good result next weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix. The Swiss team is already preparing for intense tests in order to validate all the new features. “We expect a busy Friday to find the right settings for this new package”, specifies Giampaolo Dall’Ara. “Tyre usage will also be a big challenge as Pirelli's choice to go for medium and hard tires may seem prudent. We look forward to converting all the team's efforts into improving our times. However, we are aware that the other teams are also progressing and it will be interesting to see where we stand. We will do our best to fight for the points. »