Sauber Team Principal Frederic Vasseur says it is “not a huge difference” where the outfit finishes in this year’s standings, emphasising its opportunity for 2019.
Sauber returned to the midfield pack this year after several seasons of struggle and has scored 18 points to hold ninth in the Constructors’ Championship.
It has a 14-point buffer over Williams and is within 10 points of nearest rival Toro Rosso, which moved clear in Hungary courtesy of a strong result for Pierre Gasly.
Vasseur, though, says Sauber’s biggest ambition should be to profit from the tweaked aerodynamic regulations that are to be introduced for 2019.
“If all the other teams are continuing to push and develop it will be more and more difficult [to score points] but we know also that the big gain for us will be more next year than this year,” said Vasseur.
“Honestly [if] we finish the championship eighth, ninth or seventh, it’s not a huge difference.
“There’s a huge change to the regulation next year, we have a great opportunity and we have to consider this as a real challenge.”
Vasseur also stressed that Sauber must continue to be self-critical and concentrate on its own trajectory rather than become distracted by the situation of other teams.
“The most important thing first when you are coming from the back is to be focused on yourself,” he said.
“We have a lot to do, we know more or less what we have to do and the most important thing is to focused on ourselves. On improving our weaknesses and to do it step-by-step.
“I will not focus on Williams, I will not focus on Toro Rosso, and I think step-by-step we have to deliver to fight with someone. It would be a huge mistake [to focus on others].”
