Sauber’s Audi transition already bearing fruit, Wheatley says

Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley says recent improvements and results are demonstrating the potential of what will become the Audi Formula 1 works team next season.

Nico Hulkenberg (pictured at left, above, with Wheatley) scored the first podium of his F1 career with a remarkable drive in the British Grand Prix, finishing third and holding off Lewis Hamilton for the second part of the race. That result is the high point of a clear step forward from Sauber, following updates in Barcelona that has resulted in points in every race since, making it the fourth highest-scoring team in that time.

“We talked about how important momentum is in the team,” Wheatley said. “What I take from [Silverstone] is people start believing in us.

“I can say the words. I can say we’re gaining momentum. I can say we’re putting performance on the table. I can say that Mattia [Binotto, chief technical officer] and all the hard work he’s been putting in before I came here is coming to light. It’s true, but we’ve got a very long journey towards where we need to be as a team and it’s a great step in starting on that journey.”

Wheatley says both Hulkenberg and teammate Gabriel Bortoleto have been able to show what they are capable of courtesy of a change in car characteristics brought about by the recent upgrades.

“I think we’ve all seen a confidence in both drivers with the car since Barcelona,” he said. “It was very peaky before.

“You probably noticed it was difficult for the drivers to consistently improve in qualifying, which was one of our big problems. I can remember in Jeddah, even on the brakes into Turn 1, both drivers had problems getting that right. Now, we don’t even talk about it.”

Following Hulkenberg’s podium at Silverstone, Sauber moved up to sixth place in the constructors’ championship, 18 points behind Williams in fifth.