Valtteri Bottas is encouraged that Sauber is “thinking outside the box” with the design of its 2024 Formula 1 car, after admitting the team lacked progress over the past year.
Having begun the latest regulation cycle last year by amassing 51 points across the first nine rounds, Alfa Romeo only added a pitiful four points during the remainder of 2022.
Despite Bottas securing eighth place at the season-opener this year, the Hinwil squad’s plight continued as it slumped to ninth place in the standings with a total of 16 points.
Bottas, who contributed 10 of those points to languish 15th in the Drivers’ Championship, concedes Alfa Romeo failed to maximise opportunities and build on its strong start.
“Highlights? I think, sadly, I would say the very first race of the season,” he noted. “We had a solid weekend, scored immediately, everything was looking quite good.
“But then it’s been a tough ride. There’s been a few occasions we have scored, but not enough times, so I’m definitely waiting for more highlights next year with a new car.”
Following its challenging campaign, Sauber is pressing ahead with plans to assemble a “completely brand new car” in order to resolve the limitations of its current concept.
Sauber has placed its faith in ex-McLaren Technical Director James Key to improve the flailing side’s fortunes ahead of its planned transition into a works Audi entity from 2026.
“In this sport, with the margins we have, it’s everything,” Bottas added. “There’s nothing fundamental.
“The good thing is we do have a completely new car with some new ideas, with new people in the team, and that’s exactly what we need now, so we need to make big steps over the winter – that’s the key.”
While Bottas believes Alfa Romeo’s C43 challenger was an improvement on its predecessor, the Finn asserts that its rivals advanced more in the development race.
However, the multiple-time grand prix winner is enthused that Sauber is prepared to learn from the harsh lessons of the past season and be more creative with its 2024 charger.
“We have brought upgrades pretty consistently all through the year, like any team, but some have been decent steps, some really minor, so we haven’t found anything big,” he elucidated.
“It’s been steady progress but that’s not enough. Meanwhile, some other teams, they have found big steps, new concepts, innovative things. Some might be copying other teams but still, we just did steady progress. In this sport, that’s not always enough.
“Ultimately, the biggest thing was how the car was born. It was definitely born better than last year’s car but not better enough. That’s just how it goes, so there’s not one thing that is lacking.
“That’s why I’m really pleased that we’re trying to think a bit outside the box now, and with also all the new people we have on board, and that will be coming on board.”
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