2018 Review – Sauber: Back on the Scene
At the end of 2018, Motorsinside invites you to take a look back at the performances of the teams and their drivers this season. Sauber was one of the revelations of the year with a remarkable consistency in delivering good results and a few standout performances from the talented Charles Leclerc.
Ranking in the championship: 8th, 48 pts
Best qualifying position: 6th (Brazil; Ericsson)
Best race finish: 6th (Azerbaijan; Leclerc)
There is a consistency with the Sauber team, and that’s its ability to bounce back! In 2018, the team scored more points (49) than in the previous four seasons combined (43). The change in leadership marked by the arrival of Frédéric Vasseur gave a positive boost to a struggling team that was unable to progress just 12 months ago.
The young prodigy Charles Leclerc is obviously a major factor in Sauber’s resurgence. With his 39 points scored and his brilliant performances (his 6th place in Baku), the Monegasque has single-handedly restored the reputation of the Swiss team.
This has even become attractive for other great champions as Kimi Räikkönen has chosen to continue his career in Hinwill for the next two seasons. Therefore, Sauber will still be a force to reckon with in 2019 as it seems capable of continuing its momentum.
Charles Leclerc.
Ranking in the championship: 13th, 39 pts
Best qualifying position: 7th (Brazil, Russia)
Best race finish: 6th (Azerbaijan)
We expected the young Monegasque to be under scrutiny for his first season in the premier discipline of motorsport. Nurtured by Ferrari and touted as a future champion, Leclerc did not disappoint, far from it. After a couple of rather challenging Grand Prix, particularly in understanding his single-seater, the driver #16 scored his first points at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix by securing a surprising 6th place.
He will then string together five points finishes in six races, demonstrating qualities of consistency and reliability that are so important at the high level of competition. He will be so impressive during the spring that Ferrari will end up choosing him to replace Kimi Räikkönen in 2019 and add an extra motivation for Sebastian Vettel.
Charles Leclerc is already at home in Formula 1, and he will put this ease to the benefit of the Scuderia from 2019, with a good dose of carefreeness that the Italian team really needs.
Marcus Ericsson
League standing: 17th, 9 pts
Best qualifying position: 6th (Brazil)
Best race finish: 9th (Bahrain, Germany, Mexico)
Paradoxically, what may very well be the Swedish driver’s last season in Formula 1 has been the most convincing. Although he has only scored 9 points in the championship compared to the 39 of his young and inexperienced teammate Charles Leclerc, #9’s season has not been as disappointing as the numbers might suggest.
Ericsson even seemed relieved once his future was secured in IndyCar. He notably secured an impressive 6th place on the grid at the Brazilian Grand Prix, ahead of the Monegasque, marking Sauber’s best qualification this season.
Despite everything, the Swede remains a driver with average talent, and his showdown with Leclerc has demonstrated his limits. He will therefore find refuge in another championship in 2019 but will still remain a test driver for the Swiss team, just in case, even though he himself admitted that Formula 1 is no longer his priority.
