Sauber Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley said the recent improvements and results indicate the possibility of becoming the Audi Formula Works team next season.
Nico Halkenberg (Photo above, photo with Wheatley) A surprising drive at the British Grand Prix led him to the first podium of his Formula One career, finishing third, holding down Lewis Hamilton in the second part of the race. The result is a clear step high from Sauber, following his update at Barcelona, following his points in every race and becoming the fourth-highest scoring team at that point.
“We talked about how important the team’s momentum is,” Wheatley said. “What I’m taking from (silverstone) is that people start to believe in us.
“I can say the words. I can say we are gaining momentum. We can say we have performances on the table. Mattia (Binot, Chief Technical Officer) and all the hard work he had placed before he came here will be revealed.
Wheatley says both Hulkenberg and teammate Gabriel Bortoleto were able to show what they are, courtesy of the changes in the car’s characteristics brought about by the recent upgrade.
“I think since Barcelona, we all have confidence in both drivers of our cars,” he said. “I used to be very Peeky.
“You probably noticed that it’s difficult for drivers to consistently improve their qualifying. This was one of our big problems. In Jeddah, even the brakes remembered on turn 1. Both drivers had problems.
Following Hulkenberg’s podium at Silverstone, Sauber finished sixth in the Constructors Championship, 18 points behind Williams in fifth place.