After Barcelona, Sauber scored points again in Montreal: the new features are working even on different types of tracks, and the Swiss team continues to push to refine the weaknesses of the C45. Meanwhile, Audi sees progress and its confidence for 2026 grows.
In the last two races, Sauber managed to leave the bottom spot in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship standings by collecting 14 points, all thanks to Nico Hulkenberg.
The German driver scored 10 points in Barcelona and another 4 in Montreal, a sign of a car that has improved significantly thanks to the updates the Swiss team successfully debuted in Catalonia two weeks ago.
A new floor, but also new sidepods—in short, a considerable aerodynamic overhaul. It’s no coincidence that the C45 showed a clear step forward on two very different tracks like Barcelona and Montreal, one made of fast corners, the other characterized by slow direction changes.
“It would be nice to continue this streak of points finishes. We’ve picked up some rhythm in these last two races. And, as I suspected, the car is becoming more competitive in race conditions. The updates have really paid off; they’ve allowed us to improve the car’s consistency and balance,” said Nico Hulkenberg after the Canadian Grand Prix.
“These updates have allowed us to take a step forward in terms of performance. But I think they show their best in the race rather than in qualifying. I believe the work done over the last six months is paying off. Hopefully, we’ll be able to extract even more potential in the next two weeks.”
“We’ve scored points on two very different tracks, Barcelona and Montreal. In both, we’ve been very competitive in the midfield. There’s no reason to think we can’t continue like this.”
Also interesting is Nico’s analysis of how and where the new components have made the biggest difference. After testing them on two such different tracks, the German stated that the car has shown clear signs of improvement particularly in high-speed sections. For this reason, the team in Hinwil is still working to find other solutions that can give Nico and Gabriel Bortoleto a more competitive car on other types of circuits as well, aiming for a better position in the standings.
“Perhaps our car with the new updates performs better in high-speed sections. So, it probably felt more comfortable in Barcelona than in Montreal, where the speeds are lower and there are more bumps. But we still have several areas to improve, and we’re continuing to work on them to make further progress.”
Sauber’s step forward isn’t that evident in the overall Constructors’ standings. They’ve left last place, but are now second-to-last. What gives Mattia Binotto’s men greater confidence is that there are four teams now within reach.
Aston Martin Racing, third from last, is just 2 points ahead of Sauber. Racing Bulls and Haas, respectively fourth from last and sixth overall, are tied at 28 points—just 8 points ahead of the team that will be called Audi starting next year.
In the last two races—since the Sauber updates were introduced—the Swiss team has scored 14 points compared to Alpine’s 4, Aston Martin’s 8, Racing Bulls’ 6, Haas’ 2, and just 1 point for Williams (although the Grove-based team still has 55 points overall, 35 more than Sauber).
So, while this isn’t yet a significant leap forward for Audi ahead of 2026, turning things around with the upgrades introduced in Barcelona is a strong signal not just for the present, but also for the future. If the correlation between the facilities and the track is working, it will be easier for the German marque to intervene when and if necessary.
Moreover, in October 2024, Sauber had gone a full year without scoring points. A bleak period for a historically established Formula 1 team, now preparing to hand over the reins to a prestigious manufacturer like Audi. Beyond the chaotic result in Melbourne 2025, Hulkenberg’s last two points finishes are a real litmus test of a tangible, real, and much-desired positive change for the Four Rings. Audi’s hope is to be in contention for wins starting in 2030, but debuting with a more solid competitive base than what was seen in 2024 will surely please its top management.
In the meantime, Sauber’s climb continues. The next round, the Austrian Grand Prix, might not be the most suitable for continuing their small streak of points finishes. The Red Bull Ring won’t offer the best characteristics to highlight the Swiss cars, but then comes Silverstone. And at that point, the story could be very different.
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