Bottas feels Sauber are ‘getting closer’ to first points of 2024 while Zhou says Spa DNF ‘sums up our season’

Valtteri Bottas is optimistic that the second half of the season will bring a long-awaited first points finish for Kick Sauber after one of his and the team’s “better races” at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Sauber head into the summer break as the only squad yet to record a top-10 finish in 2024, with Zhou Guanyu coming closest to doing so via 11th position at the Bahrain season opener.

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Spa-Francorchamps again saw Bottas get involved in F1’s tight midfield battle, the Finn managing to qualify 14th during a rain-hit qualifying session before doing all he could to join the fight for points – eventually finishing 15th and just over 15 seconds behind 10th-placed Daniel Ricciardo.

Asked to review his day at the wheel, and that push for points, Bottas reflected: “Yeah, I think we tried. The positive thing is it felt like we were in a bit better position again with the race pace against the competition, but still not enough for a top-10.

“We tried something different with the strategy in the end [by completing a late second pit stop], but it didn’t quite pay off. Like I said, a bit better than in the previous events.”

Pushed on what it’s going to take to get off the mark in the second half of the season, Bottas added: “I think we are getting closer. Today, pace-wise, was one of the best or better races we’ve had in terms of pace.

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“We just need to keep bringing upgrades, that’s what we need to do, otherwise keep progressing in every area.”

Meanwhile, it was another frustrating weekend for Zhou, who was the slowest qualifier and could only complete five laps in the race due to a hydraulics issue.

“Yeah, nothing more to add honestly,” he commented after returning to the pits. “Losing the power, then losing the brakes, losing the race unfortunately.

“It summed up a little bit the last few race weekends for me, so we need to fix the issue going forward, otherwise it’s of course a disappointing day.

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“I think before that the pace was good, it was also on the hard tyre, so looking strong for the stint, but nevertheless it’s nothing [at the end].”

Asked to look back on the campaign so far as F1 heads into its mid-season break, the Chinese racer added: “I mean today’s race summed it up, so nothing more [to say].”