When Nico Hulkenberg claimed 7th place at the season opener in Australia, it was Sauber’s best result since the 2022 season.
A combination of sensible driving and chaos further ahead allowed the German driver to secure this points haul.
In the rounds since then, however, Sauber’s limitations in terms of raw performance became clear.
Prior to the Spanish GP, the C45 was only capable of fighting for Q2 appearances.
Points, except in the case of a chaotic race, were beyond Jonathan Wheatley’s personnel.
This all changed last weekend, with Hulkenberg claiming a 5th place on merit – thanks to Sauber’s latest upgrade package.
Sauber upgrades exceed expectations
Towards the end of last year, an update package in Las Vegas pushed Sauber up the grid.
Whilst still firmly in the midfield, the Swiss team were at least in contention for points – which Zhou Guanyu secured in Qatar.
For the first eight rounds of the season, Sauber found themselves several steps away from points.
Alongside more established midfield teams like Aston Martin and Alpine, the ascendance of Williams, VCARB and Haas complicated life for Hulkenberg and Bortoleto.
Because of this, there was a lot at stake when the C45 received its new components in Barcelona.
When fulfilling his Thursday media duties, Gabriel Bortoleto was candid about the importance of this new package.
For many reasons, as previously assessed on LWOS, these upgrades would define the rest of Sauber’s 2025 season.
Their objective improvement last weekend, therefore, was welcome news throughout the team.
Even without the late Safety Car, Hulkenberg was running comfortably in 9th – setting consistently faster laps than Alonso and Gasly.
Only Hadjar was setting better times in the midfield, as the 37-year-old demonstrated his calibre once again.
A sensible pit-stop under the Safety Car, followed by a Verstappen penalty, added the cherry on top to a dream weekend for the Swiss team.
Wheatley reacts to Sauber’s best result since 2022
It is no secret that Sauber are in a very demanding transitional period.
They will become Audi F1 Team in 2026, officially becoming a manufacturer team after over two decades as a customer outfit.
For obvious reasons, this change promises a huge increase in the team’s potential.
Audi will provide the platform for a sizable boost in investment at the factory in Hinwil.
Not only will creating an engine department require immense commitment, but Audi’s greater ambitions will require an expansion of Sauber’s aerodynamic force – who will continue their work in 2026 and beyond.
To oversee these changes, the team have Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley at the helm.
These two senior figures, formerly at Ferrari and Red Bull respectively, are tasked with transforming the Hinwil team.
Jonathan Wheatley, who assumed the role of Team Principal a few months ago, gave his reaction to Hulkenberg’s P5 in Barcelona:
“Today was an outstanding performance for the team, and for everyone back at the factory who worked so hard to get the upgrades delivered…
“Both cars had good starts, the car pace was strong during the race, and as a team we made some really good strategy calls, resulting in a great performance all round.
“I want to single out and congratulate the pit crew who worked so hard throughout the race, including an outstanding 2.1 second stop.”
Having spent a very short time with the team, there are not many areas Wheatley could have impacted already.
Then again, it cannot be a coincidence that Sauber’s pit-stops have already improved so rapidly since the arrival of Red Bull’s former sporting director – who was integral to the Austrian team’s efficiency.
Main photo: Andy Hone/LAT Images (Sauber media gallery)
