Despite clocking the quickest time of the third day of the Jerez test, Felipe Nasr remains cautious about his new team’s chances ahead of the 2015 season.
After completing 197 laps over two days, Nasr feels he has learnt much about his team’s new car.
“I think we still have some margin on the car to improve,” said Nasr.
“In general, it was good. To be honest, I don’t think we’re going to be leading sessions in this car in all situations. Nevertheless, it’s good to finish first.”
With Sauber topping the session after setting the second-fastest time on the opening two days, Nasr believes the C34 has potential but is weary of the opposition.
“I wouldn’t say it was maximum performance [today], but there were some decent runs on the soft tyre,” he explained. “So far it seems a good beginning for the team and for myself to know more or less where we are.”
“I think the Mercedes-powered cars are hiding what they can do. It didn’t seem as though they were running 100-per-cent of what they could do.”
Despite ending the day with the honor of setting the quickest time, Nasr suffered an early spin that put him in the gravel at turn nine, temporarily halting the team’s programme.
“There was a wet patch on the very exit and I touched it and I just went off,” he says.
“I think I was the only one to drive on dry tyres at that time. It was purely for me to see how much you need to crossover to slick tyres. It’s something that I have to try now, because I don’t want to have to find out during a race, so it was the right time to do it.”
Mach1 (@mach1)
3rd February 2015, 20:45
I have realised why that Sauber looks so big. It is because they have painted the floor of the car. They should have left it black.
Eduardo
3rd February 2015, 20:53
It’s aero painting, it will be black.
Riley Smith (@rileysmith)
3rd February 2015, 23:17
Are you sure? It looks more like a reflection of the sky to my eyes.
BJ (@beejis60)
4th February 2015, 0:04
@rileysmith Look at all the crap down the side pods (same ‘color’ as the floor)…
It’s definitely flow-vis paint
Riley Smith (@rileysmith)
4th February 2015, 5:08
You’re right! I didn’t look closely enough at the yellow bit. It seems a little strange that they used light blue flow-vis on a light blue car to me. They probably know better than me though. :/
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
4th February 2015, 2:50
It has aero paint, nevertheless Ferrari powered cars do look chubby or at least with a greater amount of mass hanging lower on the car, either way that’s not good aero or chassis wise. The strangest thing is that Ferrari powered cars were quite tightly packaged in the 2014 pre-season. In the c34 case this is more to do with the fact Sauber is really tight for money.
DaveD (@daved)
4th February 2015, 3:16
They were just trying to extend into more space for their true sponsors: The Blue Angels! LOL
http://bestride.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/blues_and_mt._rainier_seafair_archive.jpg
Fast
4th February 2015, 3:32
Looks like a Gp2 car
Greg Kingston (@gregkingston)
3rd February 2015, 23:49
They haven’t painted the floor at all. It is black.
https://flic.kr/p/r2bC2t
Riley Smith (@rileysmith)
3rd February 2015, 23:52
Nice pictures!