De la Rosa sure Sauber will improve
Date published : 10 Sep 2010 - 17:27:02
Pedro de la Rosa is optimistic Sauber knows how to get more out of its C29 around Monza for qualifying after a lack of grip left it struggling for pace on Friday.
The Hinwil-based outfit was the slowest of the grid's established teams during both practice sessions, with de la Rosa's best lap from the afternoon 1.7s off the ultimate pace.
Problems generating enough grip hampered both drivers' efforts, but de la Rosa thinks things will improve for qualifying.
Today's sessions were dedicated to trying different downforce levels and to go through the tyres, he said after setting the afternoon's 16th-fastest time.
I think we have a good understanding of what is needed and, actually, we are better than we appear.
We will now work with the data for some improvements, including a better set-up for the kerbs in the chicanes.
Team-mate Kamui Kobayashi was slightly slower than his veteran team-mate throughout his first day driving a Formula 1 car in the lowest of downforce configurations required for Monza, and blamed the grip problems for hampering his pace.
I'm afraid I can't say much yet, said the Japanese.
I know the circuit well and I quite like it, but I had a hard day because I struggled from a general lack of grip. We have to improve that and we will.
In order to improve the situation for Saturday's running, technical director James Key says the team will look to make both mechanical and downforce level changes although he concedes this was never likely to be one of Sauber's stronger circuits.
It was a little bit of a tough day with trying to get the most out of the car, he bemoaned.
The main reason is a lack of consistency. We seem to lack grip, which makes it difficult for the drivers to get the most out of the tyres and the car.
We saw this particularly at the end of the second session, where it was difficult to get a decent advantage.
So we need to work hard over night and see what we can do.
We will definitely make some mechanical changes, and we have to evaluate the downforce level for tomorrow. We always felt this could be a slightly weaker circuit for us than the others. We have to work hard and see that we can improve for tomorrow.
