No points and a disqualification
In the last Bahrain Grand Prix, Sauber ended its third consecutive race with both cars outside the points, but what made headlines was Nico Hülkenberg’s disqualification, excluded from the final results due to irregular plank wear. A decision by the Race Direction that, in any case, didn’t deny the German a top-ten finish, as he had crossed the line in 13th place before the FIA verdict.
Pros and cons of Jeddah
Putting Bahrain behind them, the Swiss team now prepares for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, scheduled this weekend on the Jeddah street circuit. A track which, during the team’s partnership with Alfa Romeo, brought a points finish with Antonio Giovinazzi in 2021, in what was his final top ten in F1: “Jeddah is known as a real challenge,” Nico Hülkenberg commented. “It’s fast, narrow and leaves no room for mistakes. The track should suit our C45 better than Bahrain did recently. To be competitive here, we must make sure everything is spot on from the start. We’ll focus on setup and the balance needed to be quick in every session. It’s about staying focused, adapting to the changing track conditions due to the heat, and making sure we’re in the right place to seize any opportunities that come our way.”
A familiar track
The circuit is not unknown to Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, one of this season’s rookies but who raced in the Formula 2 event here last year: “Jeddah is a fast and tricky circuit,” commented the Brazilian, who finished last in Sakhir and is still looking for his first top-ten result. “I’ve raced here before, so I know the track. We’ve worked hard to maximize our learning so far, and I’m focused on continuing this progress, refining my performance, and pushing for a competitive result. My goal is to stay focused, keep building, and make the most of the weekend.” – the Brazilian driver concluded ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend.
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