Sauber aiming for decent qualifying result in Valencia

After another superlative podium finish at the Canadian Grand Prix, Sauber are heading to the European Grand Prix at the Valencia Street Circuit full of enthusiasm and confidence with yet another podium finish in their sights. Kamui Kobayashi has yet to finish on the podium in his F1 career, and will be eager to do so this weekend in Spain.

With the European Grand Prix renowned for its high track temperatures, Pirelli will bring the medium and soft tyre compounds to the race. Sauber believe rear tyre wear could become a factor during the weekend, and with overtaking not particularly easy around the Valencia Street Circuit, a decent grid position is imperative for both Perez and Kobayashi.

“Valencia is a street circuit, but not a typical one, because the surface is very smooth, and the kerbs are not very high.” Explained Sauber’s head of track engineering, Giampaolo Dall’Ara, “In addition, the aerodynamic efficiency is significantly more important than, for example, in Monaco or Singapore, and there are proper run-off areas. In Valencia we have to expect high temperatures at this time of the year, so the tarmac can get very hot. Pirelli is supplying us with the medium and the soft compound tyres, which have changed a bit since last year and may need us to look at a slightly different strategy for them. Rear degradation could be an issue. Overtaking is not easy on this track, therefore qualifying is of particular importance. The car is basically unchanged since Montreal, however, we might run a higher level of downforce.”

Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi has yet to finish on the podium in his F1 career, however in a car clearly capable of achieving podium finishes, he will undoubtedly be eager to finally finish on the podium sooner rather than later. The 25-year-old is also aiming for a strong qualifying performance, after getting stuck in the midfield at the Canadian Grand Prix.

“Tyre management will be the key, together with a good race strategy.” Said Kamui Kobayashi, “The street circuit also requires a decent amount of downforce for the car. You are always quite close to the walls, but after our last two races in Monaco and Montreal this is nothing new. Overtaking is not easy but not impossible either. However, my target is a strong qualifying as well as a strong race.”

With the Ferrari powered Sauber-C31 clearly competitive enough to achieve podium finishes, a victory surely isn’t far away for the Hinwil-based outfit. Both Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi were winners in GP2, and aren’t far away from victory in Formula 1.

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