Valtteri Bottas insists Sauber must introduce "more" and "bigger" upgrades within the 2024 season.
The Finnish driver seems to have come to terms with the fact that he won't be part of the team's driver lineup after 2024, especially since Nico Hulkenberg has been confirmed, and the team leadership is vigorously courting Carlos Sainz with a substantial offer.
Currently, as the team gears up for its role as Audi's official team, the existing structure is noticeably lagging, marked by its failure to earn even a single point on the 2024 grid so far - the only such team.
"There is no improvement in sight," acknowledges seasoned F1 reporter Roger Benoit, who follows Sauber closely for the Swiss publication Blick.
"The C44 is undoubtedly the slowest car in the series," he noted. "The numerous upgrades haven't made a difference - it seems the improvements from other teams are just better."
At the recent Canadian GP, the slow lap times forced both Bottas and teammate Guanyu Zhou to adjust their rear wing settings during the race.
"It was right that we tried something," Bottas told Finnish media outlet MTV. "We got a little more grip."
"But the car needs more pace. Upgrade packages are needed," he emphasized.
"The team has some plans, but we need bigger upgrade packages. And more of them. That is the key now," he continued.
Despite the immediate challenges, Sauber, now entirely owned by Audi, is looking towards the future. The team recently revealed that Stefano Sordo, a former engineer for Red Bull and McLaren, has joined the team as it prepares for Audi's F1 debut in 2026.
"With the different array of roles he played in the past, he is perfectly placed to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of our technical operations, and address what is required," explained Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl.
