Valtteri Bottas Encouraged by Sauber’s Performance, But More Work Needed
JUST IN : ValtteriBottas Encouraged by Sauber’s Performance, But More Work Needed
Valtter Bottas has expressed optimism about the improvements Sauber has made in terms of race pace, following what he described as positive signs during the United States Grand Prix. However, the Finnish driver, who is still looking for his first points of the season, admitted that there’s still more work to be done for the team to achieve their goals.
The US Grand Prix weekend showed glimpses of progress for Sauber, and Bottas started the race from 16th position on the grid. While this wasn’t an ideal starting place, it allowed him to be in the thick of the action in the midfield battle. Throughout the race, Bottas was involved in multiple intense duels, demonstrating that the team’s pace had improved somewhat from previous races.
One notable moment in his race came when Bottas found himself battling George Russell, who had started the race from the pit lane due to prior issues with his Mercedes car. The pair engaged in a close and aggressive fight, which resulted in some drama. Russell’s maneuver in this battle forced Bottas off the track at one point, an action that was deemed illegal by the stewards. As a result, Russell was given a five-second penalty for the incident, highlighting the competitiveness of the battle at the lower end of the midfield.
For Bottas and Sauber, the penalty served as a small victory in an otherwise challenging season. While Sauber has been struggling throughout the year, any moment where they can disrupt the higher-ranked teams is a confidence boost for the drivers and the entire team. Bottas’ duel with Russell exemplified Sauber’s fighting spirit, as they aim to challenge for points despite the challenges they’ve faced.
However, Bottas was quick to emphasize that the team still has a long way to go. Despite the positive signs from their race pace in Austin, Sauber remains without a point this season, a situation that will need to change if they hope to salvage anything from what has been a frustrating campaign. Bottas’ ability to battle in the midfield shows that they can at least fight with the other teams, but they need to capitalize on those battles to score points.
“We have definitely taken a step forward in terms of race pace,” Bottas said after the race. “It was a tough weekend, but I could feel that we were more competitive compared to some previous races. But obviously, it’s not enough yet. We need to keep working hard to find more performance and put ourselves in a position to score points.”
Bottas’ comments reflect the cautious optimism within the team as they look for any signs of progress. With races running out in the season, time is of the essence for Sauber to find the extra speed and consistency they need. The fact that Bottas is involved in midfield battles shows that the potential is there, but he knows it will take more than just promising moments to turn their fortunes around.
For now, Bottas and Sauber will continue pushing forward, hoping that the steps they’ve made will eventually translate into points on the board. The battle at the United States Grand Prix was a reminder that even small gains can make a difference, but bigger strides are needed if the team hopes to break into the points-paying positions. As the season moves ahead, all eyes will be on whether Sauber can build on the promising signs they’ve shown in Austin and finally make their mark.
About The Author
