Sunday: The performance was not up to par for Sauber
Things are not going well at Sauber; although Esteban Gutiérrez managed to see the checkered flag, he only finished in 16th position. As for Adrian Sutil, his race ended after only six laps due to a problem with his engine.
Esteban Gutiérrez (no.21) – 16th
The Mexican did not have an easy Grand Prix, especially in terms of managing the Pirelli tires: « It was a very complicated race in terms of tire management. With the temperatures we had, the mediums didn’t really work for us. We had to opt for a three-stop strategy, which ultimately put us at a disadvantage. »
Gutiérrez finishes far from the best and the points, but he is convinced that this will change soon: « With our current pace, we cannot aim for better in terms of results. I have complete confidence in the team, everyone is doing their best. I think Barcelona is where we can come back, take a step forward, and fight for better positions and points. »
Adrian Sutil (No. 99) – Retirement (power unit)
The German driver experienced a very brief Chinese Grand Prix, with only 6 laps completed before retiring due to an issue with the Ferrari hybrid engine in his Sauber: « Unfortunately, it was a very short race for me. During the formation lap, I already had problems. Since it was quite a slow formation lap, I wasn’t able to identify the problem. I just realized that the engine wasn’t working properly. At the start, I had almost no power. Approaching the first corner, I noticed there was an issue with the engine. I lost many positions in the first lap and ended up last. I did a few more laps, but then I returned to the pits. The team tried to fix the problem, but we couldn’t do it quickly. I had to retire. But I still remain positive. »
