Sauber group principal Jonathan Wheatley says current enhancements and outcomes are demonstrating the potential of what’s going to develop into the Audi Formulation 1 works group subsequent season.
Nico Hulkenberg (pictured at left, above, with Wheatley) scored the primary podium of his F1 profession with a exceptional drive within the British Grand Prix, ending third and holding off Lewis Hamilton for the second a part of the race. That result’s the excessive level of a transparent step ahead from Sauber, following updates in Barcelona that has resulted in factors in each race since, making it the fourth highest-scoring group in that point.
“We talked about how essential momentum is within the group,” Wheatley mentioned. “What I take from [Silverstone] is individuals begin believing in us.
“I can say the phrases. I can say we’re gaining momentum. I can say we’re placing efficiency on the desk. I can say that Mattia [Binotto, chief technical officer] and all of the exhausting work he is been placing in earlier than I got here right here is coming to mild. It is true, however we have got a really lengthy journey in direction of the place we have to be as a group and it is an incredible step in beginning on that journey.”
Wheatley says each Hulkenberg and teammate Gabriel Bortoleto have been in a position to present what they’re able to courtesy of a change in automotive traits led to by the current upgrades.
“I believe we have all seen a confidence in each drivers with the automotive since Barcelona,” he mentioned. “It was very peaky earlier than.
“You in all probability observed it was troublesome for the drivers to persistently enhance in qualifying, which was certainly one of our massive issues. I can keep in mind in Jeddah, even on the brakes into Flip 1, each drivers had issues getting that proper. Now, we do not even discuss it.”
Following Hulkenberg’s podium at Silverstone, Sauber moved as much as sixth place within the constructors’ championship, 18 factors behind Williams in fifth.
