The Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team has placed itself well on the grid to make another charge for the points positions in this afternoon’s Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix with rookie driver Charles Leclerc making it through to the Q2 qualifying session yesterday for the second race in succession to set the fourteenth fastest time.
The Sauber C37 chassis which is powered by a 2018-specification Ferrari engine this season proved up to the demanding Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Leclerc’s team mate Marcus Ericsson, despite struggling a little with the softer compound during the cloudy but dry session still finished in P17. However, overall, the Swedish driver reported that he's confident in his pace and ability to gain positions in today’s grand prix.
The Sauber team has been helped so far this season by an alarming collapse in fortunes this year by the Williams team which is struggling with a difficult 2018 single-seater and having to run two less talented pay drivers although the historic F1 team benefits from using Mercedes engines.
It means that after spending last year rooted to the back of the grid the Sauber team has seen its tail end slots assumed by Williams, allowing the Swiss outfit, now with Alfa Romeo title sponsorship backing, to move a clear step forward and aim to start to challenge the midfield running order.
Emphasising that turn in form, Ericsson qualified ahead of both Williams’ yesterday as well as the Toro Rosso-Honda of Brendon Hartley which didn’t post a laptime. Between the two Sauber was the Mercedes-powered Force India of Sergio Perez and the factory Renault entry of Nico Hulkenberg.
Yesterday’s strong third practice and final qualifying sessions built on a good showing during the previous day’s first two free practice session. It turned out to be a positive start to the weekend as Ericsson and Leclerc used the first day on track in Barcelona to focus on mechanical set-up work and testing new aerodynamic parts.
Both drivers reported that they were happy with their cars during the Friday sessions and turned in good performances with Leclerc posting an excellent twelfth fastest time in FP1 before going sixteenth fastest in FP2.
Ericsson, meanwhile, was two places adrift of his team mate on the timesheets at the end of the first practice session but improved to finish one place ahead of him in the second session.
Marcus Ericsson
Sauber C37 (Chassis 03/Ferrari)
Qualifying: 17th in Q1 (1:19.493 min / supersoft tyres)
1st practice: 14th / 1:20.984 min (18 laps) / 2nd practice: 15th / 1:20.501 min (37 laps) / 3rd practice: 18th (1:19.744 min / supersoft tyres / 17 laps)
“It was a disappointing qualifying for me. I was struggling with the balance and the car didn’t feel so good. It is a shame to finish qualifying in Q1, as we have been quite competitive this weekend. At the same time, that is a positive, and we should be able to recover some positions during tomorrow’ race. Let’s see what is possible tomorrow.”
Charles Leclerc
C37 (Chassis 04/Ferrari)
Qualifying: 14th in Q2 (1:18.661 min / supersoft tyres)
1st practice: 12th / 1:20.665 min (23 laps) / 2nd practice: 16h / 1:20.514 min (29 laps) / 3rd practice: 15th (1:19.292 min / supersoft tyres / 19 laps)
“It was a positive day for us, having extracted a stronger performance here in Barcelona than we had expected. We made some good steps forward during FP3. I did my best to put everything we have learned this weekend together and completed a good lap during Q1. It feels amazing to have made it into Q2 for the second time in a row, especially considering that we did not arrive with high expectations on this type of track layout. I am very pleased about the progress we have made. Now we must focus on the race and make the most out of it tomorrow. Hopefully, we will take some positive results home.”
Photos: Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team - 2018 FIA F1 World Championship
