Sauber at a crossroads

Date: 16th June 2010 at 4:00 pm | Filed under: BMW Sauber,Formula 1 News | Author: Leavy | Tags: BMW Sauber, Fernando Alonso, Hispania Racing Team, Jenson Button, Kamui Kobayashi, Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber, McLaren, Montreal Grand Prix, Pedro de la Rosa, Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, Wall of Champions, Williams | image © Action Images

Once again the BMW Sauber team were left frustrated in Montreal after both drivers failed to finish the race yet again.

After a poor qualifying day, the Sauber team wouldve be ecstatic to see Kamui Kobayashi climb in to the points after a great start to the lap, only to see him mis-judge the final corner and smash his car in to the ‘Wall of Champions,’ to crash out on the first lap yet again.

The in-experienced Japanese driver has failed to finish in over half of his races this year and that will be the stat the team will want the attacking driver to improve on.

Team mate Pedro De La Rosa will be as angry as he failed to bring the car home as he retired due to another car failiure.

“After Turkey, we were expecting Kobayashi to be more held back, push for points and make the other drivers make mistakes. But again the young lad showed lack of experience and put it in the wall. The car looks to have pace and be up there with Vitaly Petrov’s Renault but then the car doesn’t hold out (De La Rosa) or the driver makes silly mistakes (Kobayashi)”

The thoughts of keen F1 follower Chris Medland on Sunday, after watching the Saubers fall further behind.

The winners of the race for a second consecutive race were the British McLaren pair bring home another 1-2, with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso coming taking the final podium place. Red Bull were again left frustrated as Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber could only bring come in 4th and 5th respectively, after a team gamble failed with both drivers.

Valencia is set to see another update on many of the other cars, and with the Toro Rosso and Force India cars again showing resistance and finishing the race, the Sauber’s will have to improve and be ready to battle with the midfield cars such as the Force India, Toro Rosso and even the Willaims. This will be important as it is vital they don’t start battling with the new teams, such as Hispania Racing Team, Lotus F1 and Virgin Racing. They’re at a crossroads, but which way will they go?