Sauber Maintains Firm Resolve for Sixth in Constructors' Championship Amidst Tight Midfield Battle

Following a challenging Mexico City Grand Prix, Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley has expressed unwavering confidence in the team’s ability to secure sixth place in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship, asserting that such an outcome remains firmly within the "realms of possibility." Despite a weekend that saw the Swiss-based outfit slip to ninth in the standings, Wheatley emphasized the marginal differences in the midfield and the potential for significant swings in the remaining four rounds of the season.

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez proved to be a mixed bag for Sauber. Rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto managed to salvage a single point with a tenth-place finish, demonstrating resilience in a demanding race. However, teammate Nico Hulkenberg’s race was cut short by a technical retirement, preventing the team from capitalizing further on potential scoring opportunities. This result, combined with a strong performance from rivals Haas, saw Sauber drop two positions in the fiercely contested midfield.

"Let’s look at the points table first of all," Wheatley stated in his post-race assessment. "So Haas took a big chunk out of us today in the championship. Knocks us down to P9, as I sit here today. But the margins are really close in the points. One good weekend can swing it in a completely different direction. Genuinely, mathematically, P6 isn’t out of all realms of possibility."

As the 2025 Formula 1 season enters its crucial final phase, the battle for positions outside the top five remains exceptionally tight. With four rounds, including two sprint races, still to be contested, Sauber currently sits ninth with 60 points. Ahead of them in the critical sixth position are Racing Bulls, holding 72 points. Sandwiched between Sauber and Racing Bulls are Aston Martin with 68 points and Haas, who made significant gains in Mexico, now on 66 points. This mere 12-point difference separating P9 from P6 underscores the fluidity of the midfield standings, where a single strong result or a rival’s misfortune can dramatically alter the pecking order.

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Sauber’s 2025 campaign has been characterized by moments of genuine promise interspersed with periods of inconsistency. The team started the season with strong intent, notably securing a double-points finish at the Australian Grand Prix and challenging for a podium position in the chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a performance that highlighted their potential. Bortoleto, in his debut season, has shown flashes of brilliance, adapting quickly to the demands of Formula 1. His impressive drive to P7 in Miami, for instance, garnered significant attention, demonstrating his raw speed and race craft. Hulkenberg, the more experienced of the two, has consistently delivered solid qualifying performances and provided invaluable feedback for car development, though he has often been hampered by reliability issues, as seen in Mexico, or strategic missteps that have cost potential points. The team’s ongoing development, as alluded to by Wheatley, has seen several aerodynamic upgrades and operational refinements throughout the season, aiming to extract maximum performance from their C45 chassis.

The recent Mexico City Grand Prix illustrated the razor-thin margins. Bortoleto’s single point, while valuable, contrasted sharply with Haas’s stronger showing, which saw them climb past both Sauber and Aston Martin in the standings. Haas driver Kevin Magnussen finished seventh, collecting six points, while Oliver Bearman secured ninth, adding two more. This 8-point haul allowed Haas to leapfrog their rivals, intensifying the competition for the remaining races.

The upcoming calendar presents a diverse set of challenges and opportunities for all teams. The remaining four rounds are expected to include the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit, the highly anticipated Las Vegas Grand Prix, and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina. Each venue possesses distinct characteristics that could play to different team strengths.

The Brazilian Grand Prix, known for its undulating track and unpredictable weather, often produces dramatic races where strategic decisions and driver skill under pressure are paramount. Both Sauber drivers have shown an ability to perform in varying conditions, making Interlagos a potential hunting ground for points. The Qatar Grand Prix, with its high-speed corners and demanding conditions, will test aerodynamic efficiency and tire management, areas where Sauber has sought continuous improvement. The street circuit of Las Vegas, with its long straights and tight corners, will demand a car that is both quick in a straight line and agile through slower sections. Finally, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, often a night race, is a known quantity for all teams, providing a final chance to maximize points on a circuit that rewards strong all-round performance.

Crucially, two of these remaining rounds will feature sprint races, offering additional points for the top eight finishers. These sprint events can be pivotal, providing an extra opportunity for teams to bolster their championship tally. A strong Saturday performance in a sprint race could significantly narrow the 12-point gap that currently separates Sauber from sixth place, or even propel them ahead if their direct competitors falter.

Wheatley’s emphasis on execution and continuous improvement underscores the team’s internal focus. "We talked before about how well you have to execute every race because the margins are so close," he reiterated. "And I think for a young team that’s growing and knitting together, we’re doing a reasonable job of that at the moment. And I can feel the continuous improvement. I can feel the gains every race weekend. But we’re still punching against teams that are really established and have got strong engineering teams that have been working together for a long time."

The Sauber team, operating under the impending transition to Audi, is in a period of significant growth and restructuring. This ambition for a top-six finish reflects not just immediate sporting targets but also the broader strategic objectives of positioning the team strongly for its future. The challenge is immense, competing against established entities like Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri, with strong ties to Red Bull), Aston Martin (backed by significant investment), and Haas (a consistent midfield presence).

Despite the setback in Mexico and the formidable competition, Wheatley’s fighting spirit remains undiminished. "So I love it. It’s a championship. We’re in the hunt. And I’ll never give up until it’s mathematically impossible," he concluded, setting a defiant tone for the final races of the 2025 season. The quest for P6 is far from over, and the upcoming races are set to deliver intense battles in the midfield as teams vie for every available point.

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Jonas Leo: Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.