Guanyu Zhou secured Sauber’s first points of the 2024 season in Qatar, finishing in an impressive eighth place. The 4 points marked a pivotal moment for the team led by Mattia Binotto, lifting their spirits and finally removing the painful zero from their championship tally
Guanyu Zhou secured Sauber’s first points of the 2024 season in Qatar, finishing in an impressive eighth place. The 4 points marked a pivotal moment for the team led by Mattia Binotto, lifting their spirits and finally removing the painful zero from their championship tally. Zhou’s performance capped off a weekend of steady improvement and was celebrated with enthusiasm, including a joyous radio exchange after the race.
After months of challenges, the Sauber team enjoyed a breakthrough under new CEO Mattia Binotto. Zhou’s performance, coupled with a strong qualifying session that saw both drivers close to Q3, marked a turning point for the Swiss squad. While Zhou claimed the team’s first points, Valtteri Bottas narrowly missed out on a top-10 finish.
Hindered by an early incident involving the Visa Cash App Racing Bull of Liam Lawson, who received a time penalty for the clash, and Alexander Albon, in the final laps of the race. Despite these setbacks, the team’s newfound competitiveness signals better prospects ahead.
The drivers’Post-Race comments
At the end of the Qatar GP, the two KICK Stake Sauber drivers gave their statements on the race. Zhou Guanyu first said:“ Wow, what a race! I’m really thrilled for the entire team. Today was all about delivering on our strong performance, and we did just that. We had solid race pace, avoided any incidents, and executed the strategy perfectly, making overtakes at the right moments.” .”
“This result is a huge boost for everyone who has worked so hard. Scoring points is an incredible reward for all the resilience and effort we’ve shown this season. Given where we started and the challenges we’ve faced, this result means so much. Congrats to the team for this achievement“.
Bottas, who finished just outside the points, remarked with a mix of satisfaction and irony, “It’s late in the season, and we’ve been waiting for these improvements for a long time. It’s ironic, but it is what it is. At least now we have something to work with. . The car felt well-balanced today, which wasn’t the case during the Sprint races.” .
He credited the new upgrades, particularly the Las Vegas-spec floor, for the team’s improved performance, adding, “This gave us extra downforce, and on a tight grid like this, every bit helps“. While there’s still work to do, we can end the season on a more positive note, leaving the number zero behind.” Sauber now looks forward to building on this progress as the 2024 season nears its conclusion.
Photo: Stake KICK Sauber F1