Zhou Guanyu will revert to utilizing the Method 1 chassis he used till 2024’s Imola spherical, after his Sauber squad concluded an issue together with his newer one was contributing to his latest struggles.
Zhou’s latest type since his Imola chassis change has included a Monaco follow shunt and two crashes final trip at Montreal, which value him appreciable follow operating forward of a race the place he ended up as the one lapped finisher.
Talking forward of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, Zhou revealed his issues since altering to a second chassis of the season at Imola had felt “unusual or a bit bit surprising” behind the wheel.
He stated the problem was significantly notable if a observe is “actually bumpy”, as has been the case for the final three rounds, as Imola, Monaco and Montreal all require excessive quantities of kerb-riding to get the most effective laptimes.
“I discover the automobile could be very stiff over the bumps,” Zhou defined to reporters within the Barcelona paddock on Thursday.
“So, I wasn’t capable of push. For instance, the error I did in FP3 in Montreal, that was simply actually unhealthy. Abruptly you hit the bumps, the automobile is simply spinning round.
“That is one thing that was as an example unusual or a bit bit surprising.
“However we made quite a lot of adjustments now earlier than this weekend when it comes to simply altering the whole lot once more to a unique spec, to creating certain I get the sensation like I had at the very least firstly of the yr again.
“As a result of I really feel utterly totally different now to what I used to be capable of do in comparison with earlier than.
“So, I am wanting ahead to this weekend as a result of it is a brand-new model, it’s kind of extra like ranging from scratch.
“I modified my chassis and adjusted fairly a little bit of components [at Imola], and so we’re altering the whole lot again to what I had.”
Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Crew Kick Sauber
Picture by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Photos
Zhou additionally stated Sauber will exchange “each half, simply ensuring we begin from scratch” when it comes to the bodywork items it has constructed up round his outdated chassis.
He stated this was as a result of “you do not know precisely if the issue is simply the chassis”.
The timing of Sauber’s choice to make such a drastic change to Zhou’s automobile can also be essential, because the workforce has determined to behave in the beginning of a protracted, intense run of European rounds, with 5 races now set to happen within the subsequent six weekends.
Zhou additionally wished the problem addressed forward of the Austrian outing subsequent up after Barcelona, because the Pink Bull Ring options “a bit bit extra bumpiness on the braking”, in comparison with a few of the different purpose-built tracks F1 is now visiting after its latest mini-run of avenue programs that adopted Imola’s slim confines.
When requested if Sauber had noticed an identical downside with observe bumps on team-mate Valtteri Bottas’s automobile, Zhou initially stated he didn’t “need to go extra into particulars”, however did concede that “the bumps I felt, and the best way how the automobile responds, is a little more excessive than what’s occurring to his aspect of the storage”.
“So, that is why we decided to vary,” Zhou added. “I feel it is the precise name, and I am actually joyful to get it carried out.
“As a result of it is not simple for the workforce simply to decide to that. However I feel as soon as we decide to that, hopefully it is the precise name. And it solely will be made higher.”
