Marcus Ericsson and Sauber slowed by gearbox problem in Monaco
Reliability was the key issue for Marcus Ericsson, who lost his entire first session due to a recalcitrant gearbox. The pace in the afternoon was not up to expectations.
Ericsson: FP1 → 10th, no time (3 laps) / FP2 → 19th, / 1:15.691 (32 laps)
The first session in Monaco was shorter than expected for Marcus Ericsson: three small installation laps, then nothing more. The reason was a gearbox that needed replacing: « Clearly, it was not an ideal day. I lost a lot of time during the first free practice session due to my gearbox. It really hurts, especially on a circuit like Monaco, where every lap is crucial to achieve a good pace. The mechanics worked tirelessly to ensure the car was ready for the second session. »
On the occasion of the second session, he therefore set about trying to make up for lost time. Nevertheless, he found himself on the same pace as Pascal Wehrlein, far from the competition, even though a new floor had been brought in this weekend: « The afternoon session was good in terms of running, but our pace is not satisfactory at the moment. We certainly made progress in Barcelona, but difficulties with the car’s overall grip remain. We need to identify the causes and find solutions for the rest of the weekend. »
According to the indications left by Jorg Zander, the cause is to be found on the side of the tires, as the C32 cannot bring them into the right operating window on the streets of Monaco.
Wehrlein: FP1 → 18th, 1:16.258 (33 laps) / FP2 → 20th, 1:15.695 (37 laps)
If Pascal Wehrlein did not encounter any reliability issues, he was also not on pace, which can only disappoint a driver who finished in the points at the last race in Barcelona: « Overall, it was a difficult free practice day for us. We expected a much better result than where we currently stand. That’s why I am not satisfied with today’s performance. We need to understand the reasons why so we can improve in the coming days. »
From our special correspondent in Monaco
