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Strong start of the year for Sauber Academy drivers

The drivers representing the Sauber Academy, the Sauber young driver development programme, have had a hectic few weeks. With testing, simulator training, and a frenetic start to the season, the four drivers under Sauber management enjoyed good results at the start of or in the run-up to their 2023 campaigns.

Théo Pourchaire started his third Formula 2 season with a pole position at the Bahrain International Circuit. Following a fifth-place finish in Saturday’s Sprint Race, for which he started eighth on the grid, Sakhir turned his pole position into a surprise triumph in Sunday’s Feature Race, putting him at the forefront of the title race. Théo added no points to his score when a collision during the Sprint Race resulting in a DNF and a five-place grid penalty ahead of the following day’s Feature Race, which he finished in 13th position. However, there was redemption in Melbourne, when F2 made its Australian debut. Théo reignited his championship challenge with a strong qualifying performance in which he set the second fastest time, followed by second place in the feature race – a strong result that more than compensated for a pointless sprint race in which a gamble to switch to wet tyres in uncertain conditions did not pay off.

Following three furious rounds and six races, the Frenchman is second in the championship, eight points behind leader Ayumu Iwasa, and will look to retake the lead in Baku at the end of April. Théo had a demanding schedule of simulator sessions as part of his work as Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Reserve Driver, as he assisted the team grow on and off the track, alongside his Formula 2 campaign.

Léna Bühler spent the month practising and preparing for her debut in the newly formed F1 Academy series, which will stage its maiden race weekend in Spielberg, Austria, in April. Léna tested her F1 Academy vehicle at a test session in Barcelona, where she shared the circuit with her series’ other opponents.

Marcus Amand, who is also awaiting the start of his own 2023 season, has been busy with testing sessions in Barcelona, Le Castellet, and Monza. The teenage Franco-Finnish driver will make his Formula Regional European Championship debut later this month at the legendary Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola.

Taym Saleh competed for the Sauber Karting Team in the Valencia round of the Champions of the Future Euro Series, which ended in a DNF for the young German. Taym will return to Valencia later this month for the FIA Karting European Championship round, where he will start from pole position and finish in fourth place, keeping him in third place in the championship standings.

The rest of April will be a demanding period for their Academy drivers, with all four racers competing over the next 30 days.

Priyadarshan G

Priyadarshan G

priyadarshan

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