Friday: Everything remains to be done at Sauber
As Sauber seems to be slowly getting out of a complicated situation, the two drivers of the Swiss team showed their skills in changing conditions. But Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Gutierrez settled back during the sunny afternoon.
Esteban Gutierrez – 7th and 18th
« In the morning, we had some time on track on a wet track. We were able to conduct some aerodynamic tests, but unfortunately, we couldn’t complete the entire program. The qualifying simulation this afternoon wasn’t good. I lost part of the diffuser at the start of free practice 2, which impacted performance. I don’t feel very comfortable in the car. It’s difficult to drive a car with a relatively low level of downforce, and the balance isn’t very good. Now, we need to analyze the data and see how to improve that. »
Nico Hülkenberg – 8th and 13th
« It was quite a difficult day with mixed conditions this morning. We couldn’t have a full stint on slick tires [editor’s note: for dry conditions]. Sectors 2 and 3 were dry, but sector 1 was wet. I think there is still room for improvement. We still have work to do on the setup, with things that can and should be improved. I wasn’t happy with the car’s balance. The tires behave as usual: the mediums are definitely faster on one lap and provide more grip, but we need to find out how long they will last in the race. »
