Italian Grand Prix Team Preview: Sauber plans to move up the table

The Sauber Formula One team had a bumpy start to the season as only one of their drivers started the 2013 Australian Grand Prix because Nico Hulkenburg was pulled out even though he qualified in the 11th position on the grid. He was pulled out due to a leak in his fuel tank. Esteban Gutiérrez managed only a 13th place finish in the 2013 Australian Grand Prix, which was his first race as a Formula One driver. Things haven’t really been improving in Sauber’s paddock since then.

Nico Hulkenburg, who joined Sauber from Force-India Mercedes this season, has had a good season later as he managed four top 10 finishes. But his feats count only for half the points of the Sauber Formula One team. Their other driver, Esteban Gutiérrez, who is currently in his first Formula One season, has managed a stable start to his season by having just two retirements in the season till now, but hasn’t managed to score any points for his team.

The Sauber, with their new C32 cars and Ferrari 056 2.4 V8 engines, same ones they have used since 2010, have a lot of potential in their machines as well as drivers.

For Esteban Gutiérrez, the 2013 Chinese Grand Prix did not really go as planned as he qualified 18th on the grid and crashed into Adrian Sutil of Force-India Mercedes just in the 4th lap after missing a brake-point. He received a 5-place grid penalty in the next race i.e. the 2013 Bahrain Grand Prix for the same. Although things started to pick up after that race, as in the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, Esteban Gutiérrez managed an 11th position finish, best in his Formula One career, and also gave a fastest lap for that race putting him as the 2nd ‘Youngest Driver to Set a Fastest Lap’ after Nico Rosberg.

Nico Hulkenburg, who arrived from Force-India Mercedes this season, has had an unexpected start to the season. In his previous season, he managed 11 finishes in the top 10 and came really close to a podium finish in the 2012 Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps where he managed only a 13th position this year. The German has had a pretty rough season this year, as many would say he is taking his time to adjust to the new team and the environment.

Nico Hulkenburg has raced in the 2010 Italian Grand Prix where he managed an amazing 7th finish for his then team, AT&T Williams. But last year, with Force-India Mercedes he did not even manage to finish the race, but was classified as 21st as he completed 90% of the race distance.

For Esteban Gutiérrez, as this is his first Formula One season, it will also be his first Italian Grand Prix. The young Mexican has shown a lot of promise in his first season and surely has some expectations from his team.

The Sauber Formula One team currently stands 8th in the Constructors’ Championship table with 7 points all won by Nico Hulkenburg. The team needs a lot of improvements in its strategies as drivers’ have lost valuable positions due to late pit stops. Nevertheless, many eyes will be on the experienced Nico Hulkenburg and the young Gutiérrez for the 2013 Italian Grand Prix.