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Sauber drivers back "great decision” to use Honda engines

Sauber F1 drivers Marcus Ericsson and Pascal Wehrlein believe their team has made the right call in signing up to use Honda engines for 2018.

Valentin Khorounzhiy

Edited: May 3, 2017, 11:12 AM

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Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren MCL32, Marcus Ericsson, Sauber C36, Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber C36-Ferrari

Marcus Ericsson, Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber

Marcus Ericsson, Sauber C36 and Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber C36

Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren MCL32, Marcus Ericsson, Sauber C36 and Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber C36

Marcus Ericsson, Sauber C36

Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber walks the track

Marcus Ericsson, Sauber C36

Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber C36-Ferrari

Marcus Ericsson, Sauber C36

The Swiss outfit, which has had its engines supplied by Ferrari since 2010, will join McLaren in working with Honda, which has struggled since returning to F1 as a power unit manufacturer three years ago.

Despite Honda's particularly troubled start in 2017, Sauber's two drivers – neither of whom are confirmed past this year – have backed their current team's decision to become a customer of the Japanese marque.

Said Ericsson: "I think for the team it's a good step. Obviously, looking at it now, it doesn't look so good, because Honda is having very big problems.

"But I think for longer-term it's the right decision for the team. I think there is potential there."

Wehrlein echoed the Swede's sentiment: "I think it's great for the team. I cannot say too much about it as I'm contracted to Sauber only for the 2017 season.

"But I think it's a great decision for the team. Hopefully Honda is able to do its part to give Sauber the chance to be competitive next year."

No use "feeling sorry" over year-old engine

Having opted for 2016-spec Ferrari engines for this season, Sauber struggled noticeably at the recent Russian Grand Prix with Sochi Autodrom's power-sensitive track layout, as Ericsson and Wehrlein made up the finishing order behind the McLaren-Honda of Stoffel Vandoorne.

Responding to the suggestion that Sauber would've been better off running Honda power units in 2017, Ericsson said: "I mean, now when they have decided to go for Honda for next year... obviously we're running a year-old Ferrari engine, which is not going to [get much development] this season - so maybe it would've been better to be with a Honda engine now and trying to get that to work.

"But we have what we have now and we have been trying to always maximise the Ferrari power unit we have."

Asked by Motorsport.com whether he was worried about Sauber already suffering a power deficit this early in the season, the Swede said: "It's, of course, not what we want, but that's what it is and it's a fact. And we cannot do much about it.

"I think it will be certain tracks where we're going to struggle more and certain tracks where the engine is a bit less important.

"We just need to keep our spirit high, you know, and work hard and we need to develop the car during the season, like we have planned.

"I think feeling sorry that we have an old power unit is not going to help with anything."

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