ALFA ROMEO SAUBER F1 TEAM 2018

02.09.2018 NO JOY AS ALFA ROMEO NAME RETURNS TO ITALIAN GRAND PRIX ACTION

ALFA ROMEO SAUBER F1 TEAM - ITALIAN GRAND PRIX, MONZA 2018

The Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team suffered an unrewarding Italian Grand Prix with both drivers finishing outside the points on the occasion that the Alfa Romeo name appeared in a grand prix on “home” soil for the first time in three decades.

 
ALFA ROMEO SAUBER F1 TEAM - ITALIAN GRAND PRIX, MONZA 2018

Last weekend marked a return to Formula One for the iconic Alfa Romeo brand at Monza where the sport’s first world champion, Nino Farina, won the final race of the inaugural World Championship season in 1950 in the GP Tipo 158 “Alfetta”.

 
ALFA ROMEO SAUBER F1 TEAM - ITALIAN GRAND PRIX, MONZA 2018

For Ericsson his weekend went south during Friday’s second practice session as he suffered a major crash on his second lap at the first chicane due after his DRS stuck open. Fortunately, the Swedish driver was unharmed in the incident and the team was able to fix his car for Saturday.

The Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team suffered an unrewarding Italian Grand Prix with both drivers finishing outside the points on the occasion that the Alfa Romeo name appeared in a grand prix on “home” soil for the first time in three decades.

However, this time around Alfa Romeo has only returned for F1 as the title sponsor of the long running Sauber team.

It proved a tough weekend for the team which was on the backfoot after a big crash suffered by Marcus Erisson on Friday and at the end of the Italian Grand Prix he finished in P16 with team mate Charles Leclerc four places further up the road in P12.

Leclerc had started from fifteenth on the grid and was progressing steadily through the midfield until his race was compromised by contact with another car. His Ferrari-powered Sauber C37 single seater suffered some damage and he had to start working on recovering from the setback.

The team adapted Leclerc’s strategy at this point, which worked well. The Monegasque driver gained some positions, ultimately finishing the race in P12.

For Ericsson his weekend went abruptly south during Friday’s second practice session as he suffered a major crash on his second lap at the first chicane due after his DRS stuck open.

Fortunately, the Swedish driver was unharmed in the incident and the team was able to fix his car for Saturday. The same issue was detected on Charles Leclerc’s car and was promptly resolved so that he could continue.

Ericsson started the race from P18, after having had very little running time in total as well as a new ICE being in place following that accident. He fought hard to make up ground after a good start. He was however hit by another car on the first lap resulting in a left rear punctur, and had to pit prematurely.

From that moment, Ericsson had to work to recover positions and fight back. The Swede ultimately finished the Italian Grand Prix down in sixteenth place.

Last weekend marked a return to Formula One for the iconic Alfa Romeo brand at Monza where the sport’s first world champion, Nino Farina, won the final race of the inaugural World Championship season in 1950 in the GP Tipo 158 “Alfetta”.

The Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team has slipped back to ninth place in the Constructors’ Championship with the new “Racing Point Force India” entity having now overhauled them over the last two races.

With no points scored at Monza the Swiss-based team remains on 19 points in the Constructors' Championship while Leclerc is in fifteenth and Ericsson in seventeeth place in the Drivers’ Championship.

Marcus Ericsson

C37 (Chassis 03/Ferrari)
Result: 16th. Start on soft tyres, after 1 lap change to supersoft tyres, and after 42 laps change to supersoft tyres


“It was not the best weekend for me. To be honest, it was quite a tough race. I had a good start, however, shortly after I was touched by another car which caused a puncture on my left rear tyre. I had to pit and from that point on it was a difficult race. I look forward to Singapore now, and am confident that we can fight back there.

Charles Leclerc

C37 (Chassis 02/Ferrari)
Result: 12th. Start on soft tyres, after 34 laps change to supersoft tyres


“It was a challenging race. We lost quite a bit of time because of the contact. After we undercut our competitors with our strategy, we did manage to get ahead but it was too late for us to advance to a top-ten position. Our pace was quite good, so it is a shame not to finish in the points. Nevertheless, it was a good race, and I look forward to getting back in the car in Singapore.”

Frédéric Vasseur (Team Principal)

“It was a challenging weekend but considered the eventful weekend, all in all we had a good race. The pace was better and we were in front of some of our main competitors. Marcus and Charles recovered some of the positions they lost in qualifying, and did a good job to fight their way into the midfield. Our aim is nevertheless still to score points going forward. We have to keep on working hard and stay positive and focused for the next Grand Prix in Singapore.”

Photos: Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team - 2018 FIA F1 World Championship

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