P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Valtteri Bottas contends that Sauber’s uncompetitive state during the opening weekends of the 2024 Formula 1 season has provided a
Sauber aimed to bounce back from a disappointing previous season, but with the revised C44, they continued to struggle towards the rear of the grid in Saudi Arabia, with Bottas and Zhou finishing at the back. Bottas faced challenges with tire warm-up, leading to a second pit stop, as the team grappled with the Hard compound’s lack of temperature. Both Bottas and Leclerc acknowledged difficulties in generating heat into the tires, impacting both qualifying and race pace. Despite improvements on the car, issues like wheel nut problems have hindered Sauber’s performance, prompting Bottas to call for operational improvements alongside pace enhancements. Bottas revealed that updates are on the way for Australia and emphasized the need to address pit stop issues before the next race.
