Despite using a modified version of last year’s C34, Sauber are still getting useful data from the first test at Barcelona.
The first test was brought forwards from March to mid-February quite late into last season, throwing the Hinwil-based team’s production schedule out of the window. The 2016 car, the C35, will break cover at the second test.
Marcus Ericsson told reporters “It was a productive day.
“My last time in the car was a few month[s] ago, so it was great to finally be back in it again.
“Even though it was the C34, we were focussing a lot on trying different things that we did not have the time for last year. We tested several set-ups on the car, and we will use some information from this for early work on the C35.
“It was an extensive programme from which we obtained interesting data to look into.”
Ericsson completed 88 laps for Sauber – the equivalent of 1.3 race distances – and set a best lap time of 1:27.555. Interestingly, this is five and half tenths of a second faster than his own qualifying time from the Spanish Grand Prix last year.
The Swede is back behind the wheel tomorrow before Felipe Nasr takes to the wheel of the C34 for its final two outings in a Formula One session.
