"It's a process": Why Hülkenberg sees Sauber on the right track

(Motorsport-Total.com) - Sauber is experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions this season: Highlights, such as Nico Hülkenberg's first Formula 1 podium , have recently been followed by setbacks and several races without scoring points. Nevertheless, the German believes the team is currently undergoing a significant transformation.

"I think it's a process," Hülkenberg replied when asked whether the mindset within the team needed to change first and slowly develop a winning mentality. "Of course, it's a fact that the last few years have been tough."

"It was truly a matter of survival for the team. And that, of course, leaves its mark; it's ingrained in the people," the 38-year-old acknowledges. "But I believe a change is taking place right now, a process to move away from that—to develop ourselves further and work in the other direction."

"Of course, the highlights we've set this year have helped enormously with the confidence of everyone on the team. It's clear that if we do a good job, if we perform well, then things will happen, then we can get results. So yes, something is happening. There's progress in that regard."

Hülkenberg honest: A few missed opportunities

However, this progress isn't really showing on the track yet, as Sauber has only managed to score points once in the four races since the summer break. There are two reasons for this: "I feel like some teams have made a step forward," Hülkenberg said.

"Haas, for example, and RB were already strong. Aston Martin has probably improved as well. Williams is somehow always there." However, the competition is not the sole reason why the World Championship points haven't been achieved recently.

"I think we also had a few missed opportunities, things in the execution of the race, in the strategy," the German also blames his Sauber team. "A few things we just didn't get right, and you immediately pay the price for that."

In the midfield of Formula 1 it is "tough"

"It's tough in the midfield: If you don't execute perfectly, that's it," Hülkenberg emphasizes. In Singapore, for example, "it just wasn't the right moment for the pit stop; we were kind of in no man's land. We should have either come in earlier or really late, like Carlos [Sainz] did, for example."

"But where we ultimately stopped, there was nothing to gain. And in the end, we simply lost." Aston Martin, on the other hand, collected six World Championship points in the night race and increased its lead over Sauber to 13 points .

Can Sauber turn things around against Aston Martin in the last six races? "I think they have some momentum at the moment," Hülkenberg says. "They've improved their package and are a serious opponent. One we definitely take seriously, but one we don't have to hide from either."

"Every weekend counts, every result counts," says the Sauber driver, who is already looking to bounce back in Austin. "So it's all open for both teams, but I think we'll probably be battling each other until the end of the season."