Wheatley Insists Sauber Remains in Hunt for P6 Despite Setbacks

Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley is refusing to back down in Formula 1’s fierce midfield battle, declaring that a sixth-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship remains within reach – even as the margins tighten heading into the final rounds of the 2025 season.

Why it matters:

After a challenging Mexico City Grand Prix, where Sauber dropped to ninth in the Constructors' standings, Jonathan Wheatley's defiant stance underscores the team's determination. With only 12 points separating P6 and P9 and four rounds remaining, including two sprint weekends, the battle for crucial prize money and prestige is intensifying.

The Details:

• Tight Championship Battle: Sauber currently sits in ninth place, with just 12 points separating them from Racing Bulls in sixth. Haas, in particular, made significant gains in Mexico, pushing Sauber down the order.
• Recent Performance: At the Mexico City Grand Prix, Gabriel Bortoleto secured a solitary point by finishing 10th, while Nico Hülkenberg retired from the race.
• Wheatley's Optimism: Despite the recent setback, Wheatley remains confident, stating, "One good weekend can swing it in a completely different direction. Genuinely, mathematically, P6 isn't out of all realms of possibility."
• Team Cohesion and Improvement: Wheatley, who joined Sauber earlier this year from Red Bull, praised his team's growing unity and execution under pressure, noting, "I can feel the continuous improvement. I can feel the gains every race weekend."
• Challenging Established Teams: He acknowledged the tough competition, "But we're still punching against teams that are really established and have got strong engineering teams that have been working together for a long time."

What's Next:

With the season nearing its climax, Sauber is banking on its ability to deliver a strong performance in the upcoming races. Wheatley emphasized, "It's a championship. We're in the hunt. And I'll never give up until it's mathematically impossible." The remaining races, particularly the two sprint weekends, offer ample opportunities for significant point swings, and Sauber is aiming to capitalize to climb back up the standings and secure a more lucrative P6 finish.