Sauber hoping to get back into the points at the F1 Japanese Grand Prix

Sauber managed to bank just four points during the 2024 Formula 1 season, as the team struggled throughout the year and came home last in the Constructors’ Championship.

With a completely new driver lineup for 2025, consisting of veteran Nico Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, the team surpassed their 2024 total in the first race of the season, as Hülkenberg banked six points with a seventh-place finish in the Australian Grand Prix.

While the Chinese Grand Prix was not as kind to the team, the start of the year has given Sauber a “solid understanding” of where they are as a team.

“The first few races of the season have given us a solid understanding of where we stand as a team and where we need to improve,” said Mattia Binotto in the team’s preview of the Japanese Grand Prix. “Both Melbourne and Shanghai showed that we have the potential to fight for points, while China was more unlucky and difficult, but still valuable in terms of data and learning.

“Suzuka is a circuit that demands precision and confidence in high-speed corners, and it will be crucial to get everything right from the start of the weekend,” added Binotto. “With a triple-header ahead, consistency will be key – we need to take advantage of every opportunity and keep making progress. The team is working hard, both trackside and back at base in Hinwil, and we are fully focused on moving forward together.”

This weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix also marks the debut of Jonathan Wheatley as Team Principal. Wheatley, who joined Sauber after an extended stint as the Sporting Director at Red Bull, sees his gardening period come to an end with the calendar turning to April.

“After spending time meeting our employees at the factory in Hinwil, I am excited to join the team at the historic Suzuka Circuit for my first race and get working on our plans for this season and beyond,” said the new Sauber boss.

Both Hülkenberg and Bortoleto are looking forward to taking on a favorite circuit among the drivers.

“Suzuka is one of those tracks that really pushes you as a driver. It’s high-speed, technical, and demanding, which makes it rewarding at the end of a lap,” said Hülkenberg. “I always enjoy racing here – the fans are some of the most passionate in the world. Looking back at the first two races of the season, we’ve had some positives to build on, and we know where we need to improve. The goal now is to take that knowledge into the triple-header and turn it into consistent, competitive performances.”

“The previous race weekends so far have been huge learning experiences for me, and I expect Suzuka to be no different,” described Bortoleto. “It’s a circuit I’ve always wanted to race on — demanding but exciting, with a lot of history – especially for Brazilians. I’ve done a lot of preparation in the simulator, and I am looking forward to experience it in real life.

“The past two rounds have shown me what it takes to manage a full race distance and adapt to different conditions, and I feel like I’m making progress with every session. My focus is on continuing to learn, improving my pace, and being ready to take advantage of any opportunities that come our way,” added the Sauber rookie. “A tripleheader is intense, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and to seeing how much I can develop over these next few races.”