Sauber endured a challenging opening day at the Singapore GP, with both Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto struggling to find their rhythm at the Bay. The team’s difficulties were evident across both practice sessions, leaving them with significant work ahead of Saturday’s qualifying.
In FP1, Hulkenberg finished 12th with under 1.2 seconds off Alonso’s best. Bortoleto was 17th, still adjusting to the Marina Bay circuit. FP2 was disrupted by red flags and traffic. Hulkenberg finished 14th, while Bortoleto was 15th, just three-tenths behind his teammate.
Their ideal lap combined from sectors placed Sauber ninth overall. The C45 lacked consistency in the slower sections, particularly through Sector 2, where they were only ninth fastest, nearly half a second behind the Red Bulls.
Speaking after the session, Hülkenberg admitted the day was far from ideal.
“I think we did. Obviously, P2 was quite interrupted, you know, and not the typical classic FP2 with the red flags, but obviously it’s same for everyone. Nobody really got the long runs in, so probably good for Sunday, you know, that’s a little bit more into the unknown for all the teams and drivers,” Hülkenberg explained.
The German admitted the C45 wasn’t where it needed to be performance-wise.
“I think car-wise, yeah, still some work to do. It was a bit messy our session in P2, didn’t really have clean runs, but I think we still have a bit of homework to do. We need to try to dial out a few things”
Hulkenberg prefers to use the cooling vests for the race
With temperatures hitting 31°C and humidity over 75%, the FIA has labeled the Singapore GP as a “heat hazard.” Drivers have the option to wear liquid-cooled vests to help lower their core temperature.
Drivers have varied opinions on the cooling vests. Carlos Sainz, for example, appreciated the comfort and the benefits, while Lewis Hamilton was not very convinced, citing discomfort and itchiness.
When asked about whether he was going to pick the vest, the 38-year-old was clear saying: “Yeah, I mean, it’s a no-brainer. If they, you know, if it’s an offer, it would be, you know, I would, yeah, always just use it because especially not on, you know, today, not tomorrow, but, you know, come Sunday, when in the race, definitely, I think, you know, it takes a bit of strain out.”
Bortoleto described the balance as ‘okay’ and wasn’t anything special
For Bortoleto, his maiden Singapore weekend proved particularly taxing. The rookie battled traffic and car balance issues throughout Friday.
The Brazilian reflected on his disrupted Friday running.
“I mean, it’s FP, it’s always going to happen like this, you know, sometimes I’m the lucky one of never getting the traffic that has happened so far this year, and sometimes we’re just a bit stuck behind people. You know, it was not a clean session at all, you know, quite a lot of traffic, quite a lot of people ahead, and difficult to put a lap together.”
When pressed on the car’s balance across different fuel loads, Bortoletto added:
“It felt okay, I mean, it’s not super, but we are working to make it there, you know. I think this weekend has been a bit more difficult to find a good balance and to be precise, and to, you know, just do clean laps. It feels a bit difficult to drive, but yeah, it’s still a lot to analyse.”
He shared that he had not had the time to analyse the data and had to come to the media pen immediately after the FP2.
Sauber’s Friday numbers suggest that the team have a lot of work to do to scrape off any points and will also need a miracle in doing so. With Aston Martin and Haas, their closest rivals, in excellent form, and Haas even claiming their “best Friday of the year,” the Swiss team faces a tough challenge to stay in the hunt for seventh in the constructors’ standings.
