Sauber Boss Refuses to Give Up on Constructors' Battle: 'In the Hunt!'

Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley remains defiant about his team's chances in the fiercely competitive midfield, asserting that Sauber is still 'in the hunt' for P6 in the constructors' standings. Despite dropping to P9, Wheatley believes that with four rounds remaining, the tight points margins mean a single strong weekend could drastically alter their position.

Why it matters:

The midfield battle for constructors' points is crucial for smaller teams like Sauber, impacting not only prestige but also significant financial payouts at the end of the season. Securing P6 over P9 could mean millions in prize money, directly influencing future car development and team growth. For Sauber, a team in transition, this fight represents an important benchmark for their ongoing improvement and integration.

The Details:

• Sauber currently sits P9 in the constructors' standings with 60 points.
• The target, P6, is held by Racing Bulls with 72 points.
• Aston Martin (69 points) and Haas (62 points) are also tightly packed between Racing Bulls and Sauber.
• Close Margins: Wheatley highlighted that the points difference is minimal, stating, "One good weekend can swing it in a completely different direction." He emphasized that P6 is still mathematically within reach.
• Execution Focus: The team boss stressed the importance of executing every race weekend perfectly due to the narrow margins in performance and points.
• Continuous Improvement: Wheatley noted a palpable sense of continuous improvement and gains every race weekend within the young and developing Sauber team.
• Established Competition: He acknowledged that Sauber is competing against "really established teams" with strong, long-standing engineering departments, underscoring the challenge.

What's next:

With only four rounds left in the season, every race becomes a crucial opportunity for Sauber to score significant points. The focus will be on maximizing performance and minimizing errors to capitalize on any opportunities that arise. Wheatley's steadfast belief suggests the team will push hard until the very end, viewing this constructors' battle as a critical test of their growth and resilience.