Valtteri Bottas, a driver for the Alfa Romeo F1 Team, has acknowledged that the Sauber Formula 1 team did not meet its goals in the previous season and has challenged them to exceed the “high expectations” he has for the upcoming 2024 season.
Sauber achieved its best championship finish since 2012 when Formula 1 reintroduced ground effect aero in 2022. However, they dropped three positions to ninth place in the last season.
The team based in Hinwil has developed a redesigned car, the C44 charger, with only a few parts carried over from its previously uncompetitive model.
Despite their underperformance last season, Bottas, who will be entering his third season with the team, believes that Sauber should aim high for this campaign.
“In our third season together as a team, we need to set ambitious goals,” Bottas stated. “I have high expectations, and we must make significant progress from last year, where we admittedly fell short of our targets.
“We need to rectify that now, step up our performance, and perform better.”
Bottas has implied that the arrival of former McLaren Technical Director James Key and increased investment have contributed to his increased optimism for this year.
When asked about his confidence in Sauber’s prospects, Bottas responded, “I derive my confidence from observing the changes that have taken place within the team.
“We have acquired numerous new resources in various departments, and we have an entirely new identity. The new car has a distinct appearance, not just in terms of its livery.
“All of this gives me confidence that we are on a different path, hopefully the right one.”
The Finnish driver, previously a winner of ten grand prix races with Mercedes, declares his satisfaction with the progress made by Sauber during the offseason. According to him, at the start of a new season, every team begins from scratch, making it impossible to predict their position due to the narrow margins that separate them. He further adds that while all teams are pushing and developing, he is pleased with the advancements made by Sauber in recent months with their new car. Comparing this season to the previous one, he expresses greater confidence based on what he has observed.
However, Bottas cautions that it is only after the car has been tested on various circuits that Sauber will be able to assess its standing in the Formula 1 hierarchy. He acknowledges that testing provides valuable insights into the car’s setup, but it is only at the first race that a clearer picture begins to emerge. Drawing on his experience in the sport, he explains that it usually takes three or four races to truly understand where a team stands, especially considering the diverse nature of the tracks in the early rounds of the championship. It is important not to jump to conclusions too quickly.
