The 2024 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix arrives with nine of the ten teams having enjoyed a points finish this year.
Sauber, however, is still seeking their first positive result of the campaign.
While both Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu have shown pace at times this season, the team still has nothing to show for their efforts over the 2024 F1 campaign. Earlier in the season the team was undone by a problem in the pits, and continued lengthy pit stops turned promise into heartbreak.
Now they arrive at the Spanish Grand Prix, the first race of an F1 tripleheader, knowing they need “comprehensive improvements” yet still “confident” in their ability to finally break through into the points.
“We return to Europe after a challenging weekend in Montreal, determined to bounce back at the first possible occasion. The team is united, we understand that comprehensive improvements are essential across all areas, but we remain confident in our ability to compete for points once again,” described Team Representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi.
“The tight margins in this sport mean that even the smallest enhancement can be pivotal, particularly in qualifying. Improving our single-lap performance is vital to positioning ourselves better on race day and targeting a top-10 finish,” continued Alunni Bravi. “Our dedication and hard work will be key to turning our season around and everyone, both trackside and back in Hinwil, is ready to embrace the challenge ahead.”
While Bottas has yet to secure his first points of the F1 season, the driver is coming off his best athletic result of the 2024 calendar year. The driver and his partner Tiffany Cromwell participated in the FNLD GRVL cycling event this past week the duo helped organize.
Bottas captured his first gravel race win, while Cromwell secured victory in the women’s 177 kilometer race
Having tasted success on the bike recently, Bottas is now hoping for more success on the track.
“It’s good to be back in Barcelona, a place that we know like the back of our hands. This is a place that always suited me and feel I can be at my best here. It’s a circuit that has no secrets for the teams: we have reams of data about it, in every condition and with every variable accounted for so, once again, it will be the finest details that will make the difference, especially on Saturday,” described Bottas. “Although we haven’t been as strong in the last few races as we should be, we are confident in our abilities. The team has put in tremendous amounts of effort to understand our issues and improve our performance. It’s a tight field, but with improved qualifying, we know we can be back in the fight for points again.”
While his teammate is not coming off similar athletic success during his week away from the track, Zhou is also hopeful for a positive result in Barcelona.
“I’m excited to be back racing again, and I am determined to get back into the fight for points,” described Zhou. “Unfortunately, the last few races didn’t go well for me and the team, but we are determined to bounce back. We’ve used our little break wisely to identify issues and work hard to be competitive again.
“I have some good memories of Barcelona – last year’s race was a lot of fun and I brought home some points, too. It’s a track we know well and that should mean there will be no surprises – it’ll be all about ultimate performance,” added the Sauber driver. “It’ll be crucial for us to start strong: nailing our setup early into the free practice sessions with lots of running to put us in a good position for qualifying and ultimately the race.”
To date, the team’s best results have come in the past two weeks, when Bottas placed 13th in the Monaco Grand Prix, and then 13th again in Montreal during the Canadian Grand Prix. Perhaps that momentum — and Bottas’ success in FNLD GRVL — gives the team the boost they need to finally open their account in Barcelona.