P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sauber has had a historically bad start to the F1 season in terms of pitstops. That’s actually the result of attempts to make them quicker for 2024 – and the issue at heart is likely to linger for a few more races
Sauber is facing ongoing pitstop issues that are expected to persist for the next three to four races, potentially affecting their performance until the start of the European season in May. The team has encountered problems with cross-threaded wheelnuts in the first three races of the season, resulting in significant delays and compromised results for their drivers. These issues are attributed to the lightweight material used in the new wheelnuts introduced for the 2024 season, impacting their pitstop times negatively. Sauber attempted countermeasures during the Australian Grand Prix weekend to address the problem, but they were not entirely successful, leading to continued setbacks in pitstops. The team is working on modified designs for the wheelnuts and front hubs from an external supplier, but these changes will take time to implement due to metallurgical processes involved. Despite the challenges, Sauber remains committed to improving their pitstop performance and addressing the technical issues to enhance their competitiveness in future races.
