Practice report
Formula 1
Sauber tested aerodynamic components on Friday practice at Sakhir
Nico Hülkenberg: "We have a long night ahead of us to try and maximise everything for this weekend.”
Edited: Apr 19, 2013, 7:11 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
During the first free practice for the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix the Sauber F1 Team drivers, Nico Hülkenberg and Esteban Gutièrrez, tested several aerodynamic components.
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber C32
Photo by: XPB Images
The second session saw both drivers focusing on the set up work and the difference between the two tyre compounds, which are the medium and hard.
This morning there were a few drops of rain in the paddock, but in the afternoon, the sun was out and from today the new logo of the Swiss sports watch brand CERTINA shines on both Sauber C32s and on the visors of the Sauber F1 Team drivers. The new logo highlights the DS-concept (double security), which was developed in 1959, crafting though and waterproof watches. Since 2005 CERTINA has equipped both drivers and the whole race team with sporty looking and precise watches.
Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari - 1st Practice: 17th, 1:36.755 min, 20 laps / 2nd Practice: 15th, 1:36.133 min, 36 laps): “We were able to run our practice programme as planed today. Everything went quite smoothly. In terms of performance, there is still quite a lot of work for us to do.
I expected this circuit might highlight some of the weaknesses of the car, but I think there is some potential. I’m still not happy with the balance of the car, but I think we can find more performance tomorrow if we sort out the balance.
We have a long night ahead of us to try and maximise everything for this weekend.”
Esteban Gutiérrez: (Sauber C32-Ferrari - 1st Practice: 18th, 1:37.214 min, 21 laps / 2nd Practice: 18th, 1:36.616 min (34 laps) “I think we managed to improve the balance of the car in the second session compared to this morning.
The first session was a bit tricky in terms of the balance of the car. We were trying a lot of different settings and measurements, but everything came together this afternoon.
However, we are still missing speed in the slow corners due to lack of stability and traction. We will look at the data and work on these characteristics so we can create a car with a better margin.”
Tom McCullough, Head of Track Engineering: “It was a pretty standard session evaluating some development parts as well as the tyres with the high track temperatures.
Both cars ran reliably throughout the day, allowing us to gather lots of valuable data. We improved the car’s balance during FP1 and FP2, but we still have some work to do before tomorrow.”
Sauber F1 Team
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Williams completed tests at Sakhir on Friday practice
Next article Gonzalez debut at Marussia on a tough Friday for the Bahrain GP
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Esteban Gutierrez
"This is the American dream": Inside Haas’ shock F1 debut 10 years on
Formula 1
Formula 1
"This is the American dream": Inside Haas’ shock F1 debut 10 years on
Gutierrez joins Glickenhaus for Le Mans as full entry list revealed
WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Gutierrez joins Glickenhaus for Le Mans as full entry list revealed
Ex-F1 driver Gutierrez joins Inter Europol for 2022 WEC campaign
WEC
WEC
Ex-F1 driver Gutierrez joins Inter Europol for 2022 WEC campaign
More from
Ferrari
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
4 h
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brazilian GP
22 h
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Latest news
George Russell: F1 2026 season a test of "character and resilience"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
50 min
George Russell: F1 2026 season a test of "character and resilience"
Marc Marquez: ‘Jorge Martin rides on instinct; he just attacks, and that’s his strength’
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Marc Marquez: ‘Jorge Martin rides on instinct; he just attacks, and that’s his strength’
Lamborghini Super Trofeo | North America, Race 2: Bamber dominates to take the win
Lamborghini Super Trofeo
LBST Lamborghini Super Trofeo
World Finals - Monza 2026
1 h
Lamborghini Super Trofeo | North America, Race 2: Bamber dominates to take the win
Belgian firm to take over Renault/Alpine engine facility in Viry
WEC
WEC WEC 2 h
Belgian firm to take over Renault/Alpine engine facility in Viry
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe