Sunday: Zero points for Sauber despite a step forward
Despite a step forward in performance, Sauber leaves empty-handed following two retirements in the race. Esteban Gutierrez was never able to restart from his last pit stop, while Adrian Sutil came to a halt on the straight. However, both drivers have confidence in the future.
Esteban Gutierrez (No. 21) – Abandonment
After a lukewarm qualification, the Mexican wanted to have a good race to try to grab some points. While the objective started to take shape, it quickly turned short. After a rather long stint, I made a stop and could not engage first gear. After multiple attempts, it was clear that the Sauber could not restart, forcing the driver to retire. Despite this, Esteban Gutierrez wants to stay positive: In the end, we made progress this weekend.
The Mexican wants to look forward by giving his priorities: « We must solve our problems in order to be consistent and reliable on the track without technical issues. The season will be long, and I am confident in our ability to improve. »
Adrian Sutil (No. 99) – Retired
While in the pack and trying to catch Daniil Kvyat for the tenth place point, Adrian Sutil saw his race come to an end, much like his engine: « I lost power, and suddenly the car stopped. I don’t know what happened, so we need to analyze that. » The German knows the situation is difficult at the moment, with many negative points on his car: « In general, our pace is too slow and our grip level is too low. This is not usual, and we didn’t expect this. »
But like his teammate, the driver with the number 99 hopes for improvement in his Sauber: « For the upcoming races, we have a plan we’re working on to make progress. »
