The start of the 2025 Formula 1 season is only a few days away and fans will have a better understanding of whether the pecking order established during pre-season testing in Bahrain was accurate.
Everybody in the paddock believes McLaren have the fastest car but they’ll have several rivals who will hope the Australian Grand Prix street circuit in Melbourne suits their machines better.
The likes of Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes will be hoping the gap to McLaren isn’t as convincing as Lando Norris’ race simulation in Bahrain suggested.
However, the rest of the paddock will also want to be in a position to spring a surprise.
New Williams driver Carlos Sainz set the fastest time across all three days while Pierre Gasly stood out for Alpine.
Further back, there were a couple of manufacturers who already looked off the pace, with Ted Kravitz suggesting Aston Martin might be the ninth-fastest team this season.
Sauber appear to be in the worst position heading into 2025, picking up exactly where they left off last year.
The imminent takeover of Audi will give the team hope as will the signings of established star Nico Hulkenberg and Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto.
However, ex-engineer and close Kimi Raikkonen ally Julien Simon-Chautemps told The Race F1 Podcast what was so concerning about Sauber’s data in Bahrain.
Sauber ‘surprising’ in Bahrain during pre-season F1 testing
Reflecting on the performance of the Swiss team who have just a single Grand Prix win to their name, Simon-Chautemps said: “Sauber are at the back but really had the back, which is not surprising that they are the back, but it’s surprising because usually in Bahrain, they do quite well.
“So, I think it will be a complicated year for them with the transition with Audi. So they need to show what they are doing, I mean, it will be very tricky for them.
“They can’t afford to be last again, passing the ball to Audi next year.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Sauber from team principal to 2026 Audi future
“The car was awful. I mean, I watched some on board from Nico, who is an extremely good driver.
“I’ve known Nico since I gave him his first drive in Formula 3, so imagine a few years ago, about early 2000.
“And I’ve known him for many, many years, he’s an exceptional driver and seeing him battling with the car, like he’s driving on ice or rallying left, right and centre.
“For sure, he must not have had a very pleasant experience. So I’m using data, I’m not using my opinion. So that’s what the data shows.”
David Croft concerned about what he’s hearing from Sauber
Formula 1 is getting more competitive than ever and the introduction of a cost cap has stopped the biggest manufacturers from extending their advantage over the rest of the field the longer a ruleset has gone on.
Unfortunately for Sauber, the upcoming takeover of Audi has blurred their short and long-term goals, leaving them on the back foot for much longer than they should have been.
Letting Andreas Seidl go last year highlights the lack of foresight within the organisation and while Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley are impressive hires, they’ve not been given long enough to put their stamp on the team before 2026 rolls around.
READ MORE: Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg’s life outside F1 from wife to height
David Croft has heard worrying noises from inside Sauber and their decision to create a UK base after years of being established in Switzerland highlights the difficulty they’ve had in attracting the best staff to work for them.
They’ll be splitting operations between the UK and Germany going forward which is a scenario that Haas have struggled with for years.
Sauber will be relying on the talent of Hulkenberg and Bortoleto to avoid this season potentially becoming embarrassing.
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