Formula 1

Sauber Disappointed with just One Point from Singapore Grand Prix

2 Mins read
Sergio Perez - Photo Credit: Sauber Motorsport AG

Sergio Perez - Photo Credit: Sauber Motorsport AG

 

Sauber picked up just one point from the Singapore Grand Prix today after Sergio Perez recovered from a collision with Michael Schumacher to finish tenth.

Team-mate Kamui Kobayashi, who started the race from P17, could finish only fourteenth.

“I think tenth was the best we could manage today,” said Perez. “I was on a two stop strategy, starting on the supersoft tyres and changing after 15 laps to the soft compound. For my second stop I had to pit earlier because I had a puncture after the accident with Michael, and then I had to do a very long last stint – actually just a bit over half the race distance – with the second set of soft tyres.

“I think Michael was too optimistic with what he tried. It is a shame to have lost a place to Felipe (Massa) in the end, but the tyres were finished and I couldn't defend anymore. We will keep fighting to get back sixth place in the [Constructors’] Championship.”

Kobayashi was given a drive-through penalty for ignoring blue flags during the race. The Japanese driver claimed that he did not see them.

“This was a very difficult weekend for me,” he commented. “Our pace all weekend was actually okay, but in the race, due to traffic and a mistake with the strategy when the Safety Car was on the track, it didn't work out. I was very surprised when I got the drive through penalty, because I didn't see any blue flags.”

Giampaolo Dall’Ara, Head of Track Engineering at Sauber, said that the team were expecting a better result from this race, and that the performance of the two cars was actually pretty reasonably this evening.

“I can't pretend to be that happy with one point, as I think we were expecting a little better than what we achieved today,” he said. “Unfortunately the Safety Car didn't come at the right moment for us. Under the circumstances I think what Sergio did was the best we could achieve here.

“I have to be honest and say we should have left Kamui out during the Safety Car period, but still I don't think he could have scored points today. Performance wise I think we are better than we looked, but we just didn't get through the traffic when it was there.”

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