Sauber’s Optimism Amid Struggles: Bottas and Zhou Seek Points Despite Monza Disappointment

Sauber identifies "positive indicators," but Valtteri Bottas remains without points

Sauber chief maintains there are grounds for hope

Sauber is confident that they have reduced the distance to their closest competitors, even though they have yet to earn any points at the F1 Italian Grand Prix.

Valtteri Bottas secured the 16th position at Monza, finishing two spots in front of his teammate Guanyu Zhou.

Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, and Logan Sargeant, who no longer holds his position at Williams, are the sole Formula 1 drivers in 2024 who haven't scored any points. Additionally, Sauber remains the only team with no points.

The Sauber team saw their drivers qualify at the rear, leading them to put Bottas on hard tires for an extended initial run, but their strategy did not yield significant results.

Nonetheless, team spokesperson Alessandro Alunni Bravi maintains a sense of hope.

He asserted that despite the final standings appearing similar to past races, there were encouraging indications in the team's performance.

"Each driver successfully handled their hard and medium tires, enabling us to stick to our pre-race strategy while keeping wear in check."

"While we still don't have the speed needed to compete for points, the low-drag package we introduced at Monza and the adjustments made for qualifying have enhanced the car's balance, giving Valtteri and Zhou an opportunity to compete."

“We have much progress to make before we can compete for points, but it's crucial to recognize that, at present, the difference between us and our main rivals has decreased – this is a positive development that should be highlighted.”

Bottas commented on the race, describing it as smooth and uneventful for the team. He mentioned they opted for a one-stop strategy, beginning with the hard tires, in an attempt to try something different and perhaps benefit from the timing of a possible Safety Car.

"Regrettably, things didn't go as planned for us, but I believe it was worthwhile to attempt it."

Reflecting on the progression of the race, I realize I wouldn't change a thing. We managed to advance a few spots on the track, reaching 16th place through our own efforts, but that was truly the best outcome we could achieve.

"Our speed hasn't significantly improved. Although the weekend began on a positive note, we struggled to maintain that momentum and make substantial gains. Nonetheless, this weekend was certainly better than our experience at Zandvoort. We have considerable work to do to make further progress, and we'll be focusing on that as we prepare for the upcoming back-to-back races in Baku and Singapore."

Zhou commented, "Our speed today wasn't sufficient to compete for points, particularly in a straightforward race without any major disruptions or surprises."

"Although our speed has improved since last weekend's event in Zandvoort, we are still lagging behind our main rivals in terms of overall performance."

Over the weekend, we've noticed some progress in our one-lap speed. However, it's evident that we must identify the car's optimal performance setting and deliver a perfect performance throughout the weekend to achieve the finest outcome.

"Our team prioritizes hard work and dedication over luck, striving to shave off those vital fractions of a second that can propel us into the top ten."

Next year, Sauber will transition into Audi, although they will maintain their present form.

Nico Hulkenberg has secured a contract with Haas for the 2025 season, leading to a fierce competition between Bottas and Zhou as they strive to remain in Formula 1.

The only two teams with open driver slots for the upcoming season are Sauber and Red Bull.

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