Sauber F1 Team Faces Mysteries and Disqualifications: What Happened to Nico Hulkenberg’s Car?
The Sauber Formula 1 team is in turmoil following Nico Hulkenberg’s disqualification at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The driver finished 13th in a challenging race but was stripped of his result due to his car’s skid plank being worn down to 8.4mm, below the required 9mm thickness. This incident marks the second disqualification this season for skid wear, with Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari also facing a similar fate in China.
Sauber’s veteran, Beat Zehnder, expressed bewilderment over the situation, stating, “You do FP1, you do FP2, you do FP3, you measure, you have your references and why we’re below 9mm, we really don’t know.” Zehnder acknowledged the demands of the bumpy Bahrain track but refused to make excuses, admitting, “It is a mistake from our side.”
The team is puzzled as to why Hulkenberg’s car, and not his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto’s, suffered from excessive skid wear. One theory is that Hulkenberg was running a different setup with more downforce, potentially contributing to the issue.
Sauber’s struggles extend beyond this disqualification, with the team only scoring points in Australia under chaotic weather conditions. The limitations of their 2025 car were further exposed in the blistering heat of Bahrain, highlighting the team’s performance challenges.
Zehnder emphasized the importance of qualifying and track position, noting, “These days you need a 1.2 to 1.5 second lap time difference to be able to attack, so dirty air is painful, and free air is much healthier for your tyres.” The team faces an uphill battle to find the necessary improvements to compete more effectively on the grid.
As questions linger over the mysterious disqualification and Sauber’s performance struggles, all eyes are on the team’s next moves as they strive to overcome these setbacks and make their mark in the competitive world of Formula 1.