Friday: The Sauber drivers are looking for the right balance between qualifying and the race
While Nico Hülkenberg had shown the potential of his Sauber during the last Grand Prix, it seems that the Swiss team's car has fallen back in line with the Singapore track. Both drivers expect to have a lot of work to aim for points on Sunday.
Nico Hülkenberg – 17th and 14th
« During free practice 1, we struggled a bit with the car’s settings and couldn’t find a good rhythm. This afternoon was much better. I felt much more confident in the car. However, there’s always room for improvement, especially with the option tires. I think we can gain a bit of lap time. Despite everything, it was quite interesting that the hardest tires were a bit weak for me during the long stint, and the option tires performed better. Seeing this, we realize we still have a lot of work ahead of us. »
Esteban Gutierrez – 10th and 16th
« It was a good Friday. We completed some good laps and were able to achieve some of what we had planned to improve for qualifying. My experience is growing, but I need to keep working on certain things. We worked on the car’s setup. My long runs seem good. There is a lot of thermal degradation on the tires, which will add a challenge to the race. It’s something we need to look at to try to find the right compromises between qualifying and a good race pace. Despite everything, the car is good, but we need to keep working towards tomorrow’s qualifying. »
