Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsSauber

Nasr ‘convinced’ chassis is handling differently to Ericsson’s

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Felipe Nasr says he is “100% convinced” his Sauber chassis is handling differently to team-mate Marcus Ericsson.

The Brazilian has struggled so far this season, with Ericsson getting the upper hand in qualifying in all three of the opening races and similarly finishing ahead in the two grands prix both cars have finished. Asked during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend how the chassis had been, Nasr replied: “Same as it was in the last few races.

“I think with a bit of set-up work we managed to get it a little bit better but the similar characteristics I’ve been feeling in the last few races are still there. Lacking stability, a general lack of stability and a weakness in the braking zones.

"We started the same [set-up as Ericsson] and the outcome was like the last few races. I'm struggling big time. I’m feeling a whole general lack of stability of the car, especially under braking, which he is pretty happy [with].

"He's been happy with the car since this car was built - and I had the chance to drive the car he's driving back in the test in Barcelona and was pretty happy, too. But since we built this second chassis we’ve been having these handling issues.”

And Nasr believes it is the chassis which is causing the gap between himself and Ericsson so far this season.

"I am 100% convinced that the handling is not as it should be. We see the differences in the cars and the best reference I had was back in Barcelona when I drove his car and I was pretty happy too like he is now. I have the confidence in the team that they will find the problem and they will act on it.”

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.