Sauber Test 1 in Barcelona – Day 4

1 March 2018

A first winter testing at the Circuit de Catalunya, which has been marked by challenging weather conditions, has come to an end. On the final day of test 1, Marcus Ericsson completed a total of 79 laps; Charles Leclerc took over the cockpit of the C37 in the afternoon, completing 59 laps.

Circuit: Circuit de Catalunya / 4.655 km
Drivers: Marcus Ericsson (morning), Charles Leclerc (afternoon)
Weather: morning: cloudy and rainy; afternoon: cloudy/sunny and damp/dry; air 9° – 16°C, track 9° – 18°C
Chassis / engine: C37-01 / Ferrari

Marcus Ericsson, 9:
“Today, we had the opportunity to gain insight into the behavior of our new car in wet conditions, while testing different tyre compounds. All in all, this first week has been quite insightful, despite the limitations that we faced due to the difficult weather conditions here in Barcelona. I have learned a lot, and look forward to continuing to make positive progress next week.”

Programme: tyre work
Laps today: 79 laps, 367.745 km
Fastest lap: 1:23.825 min (P14, supersoft tyres)

Charles Leclerc, 16:

“It was great to be back on a race track this week. I was able to learn a lot about all of the new procedures and am starting to feel more comfortable in the car. The weather conditions were not ideal this week, but we made the most of it. As they were improving this afternoon, we completed a number of tests, which was a positive end to this first test. I can’t wait to get back into the car next week.”

Programme: mechanical and aerodynamic tests, tyre work
Laps today: 59 laps, 274.645
Fastest lap: 1:22.808 min (P13, soft tyres)

Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal:
“Overall, it has been quite a productive first week of winter testing for us, taking into consideration that we have been facing tricky weather conditions. We have gathered some useful data, which will allow us to establish the strengths and weaknesses of our new car, and prepare our programme for the second week of testing. Our rookie, Charles Leclerc, has developed a first real sense of what the car feels like on track, and is becoming accustomed to all of the procedures very quickly. Marcus Ericsson has been able to give useful insight into the progress that has been made in comparison to last year, and the team is coming together very nicely. I look forward to next week.”