Pascal Wehrlein says that Sauber’s current update package is set to be its final raft of upgrades in 2017, with the team braced for a struggle in Belgium and Italy.
Sauber introduced the first part of an aerodynamic update in Hungary, which did not produce the anticipated step forwards, and a new floor has been added to the C36-Ferrari this weekend.
Sauber has struggled for pace in 2017 amid a lack of downforce, with its predicament accentuated by its use of a year-old Ferrari power unit, the only team on the grid running an old-spec engine.
Sauber slipped behind McLaren at the Hungarian Grand Prix and is now rooted to the foot of the standings, six points behind its Honda-powered rivals.
“Soon the team will just focus on next year’s car with the development,” Wehrlein explained.
“Probably where we are this weekend, and next weekend [in Italy] and Singapore is more or less what we will have in Abu Dhabi with the car.
“But still we can improve on the set-up side, how we understand the car, but new parts obviously are not coming any more.”
On Sauber’s immediate prospects, Wehrlein commented: “This race and the next one will be quite difficult for us.
“We’re running different downforce levels to see what we can do with the rear wing and so on, but this race and the next one…”
Wehrlein’s future in Formula 1 remains uncertain and he admits it would “make sense” for Ferrari to place its drivers at the team, following Sauber’s decision to continue using its power units next year.
“I mean it makes sense for sure for Ferrari to do that,” he said on the prospect of Charles Leclerc and/or Antonio Giovinazzi joining Sauber.
“They have two good young drivers and that would make sense; if it has something to do for me for next year, if something changes, at the moment I don’t know.”
