Sauber has fitted a small flow diverter aimed at channeling hot air away from the rear wheels, helping to lower temperatures. However, according to the Swiss team, any performance gain from this modification is expected to be limited to around 50 milliseconds.
While Sauber’s main focus remains on the 2026 season, the team arrived at the Dutch Grand Prix with a minor update on the rear of the cars driven by Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
The Swiss outfit has added two small flaps designed to dissipate heat from the rear wheels, preventing it from radiating into the rims and therefore reducing tire temperatures.
Sauber’s sporting director, Iñaki Rueda, provided further insight into this small development, which both drivers were able to use from the first practice session at Zandvoort.
“You may have noticed we mentioned a change to the rear of the car. If you look at the images or examine the car here, you will see that this area is packed with components. It’s just the inner part, specifically between the tire and the rear wing, and this section with all the small flaps is highly intricate. Why? Because this area serves multiple purposes, as I mentioned earlier,” explained Rueda.
“It helps redirect airflow from the floor, assists in channeling air around the bodywork, and also makes use of the tire heat. As I said, the heat in the tire comes mainly from contact with the asphalt, but also from the brakes inside the wheel. We have these large, glowing red brakes similar to what you see in endurance cars, and ensuring that as little heat as possible radiates to the rim is extremely challenging. These small flaps play an important role in that.”
Rueda further clarified that Sauber does not expect major lap time improvements from this small upgrade.
“The flap we introduced is primarily aimed at directing airflow away from the tire. We’ve calculated the potential gain to be within 50 milliseconds. It’s not a major change. We hope it might slightly improve lap times due to the reduced tire temperatures, perhaps. So, it’s a modification that can be considered positive, but quantifying the exact benefit is very difficult.”
Despite introducing this small upgrade, Sauber remains fully focused on the next season. The component seen at Zandvoort required minimal effort and investment, allowing the team to implement it without diverting resources from 2026 development.
“Our focus is entirely on 2026, but some updates don’t require wind tunnel work. Today, certain parts can be designed and refined in CFD. This is just a small addition to an existing brake drum. The original piece hasn’t been changed. Essentially, we’ve just attached a flap to an already existing component,” Rueda concluded.
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