Pedro de la Rosa lauded Sauber’s recent progress after qualifying ninth for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Hinwil-based squad had a disastrous start to the season but has risen up the midfield ranks of late, and de la Rosa says the C29 is now a vastly improved car.
“I am happy with my performance but, more importantly, I am very proud of the team,” said the Spanish veteran after netting his second top-10 grid berth in the past three events.
“The car was really good. My position proves how much progress the guys from Hinwil have made with the car, especially to make it quicker in slow corners.
“They just kept their heads down and worked hard, and they have turned it around.
“Tomorrow I will try and stay out of trouble at the start and during the first lap, and then I will certainly fight for points.”
Team-mate Kamui Kobayashi had a much less successful session – getting eliminated at the Q1 knockout stage after being held up by a wayward Hispania on his best lap, and then driving through a red light at the pit entry instead of stopping at the weighbridge.
That misdemeanour earned him a five-place grid penalty, so the Japanese driver will start the race from the back row.
Kobayashi was more concerned by his car’s handling, however.
“I am very disappointed,” he said.
“We have done a lot of set-up changes since we arrived here, but still I am not happy.
“To me the car feels strange, different from what I'm used to, and I don't have any grip.
“So the situation was quite difficult for me anyway, and then the team was over-optimistic sending me out on the harder tyres for my second run in Q1.
“I believe on the softer compound I would have managed to get at least to Q2.
“However, mistakes happen. I obviously went past a red light in the pit lane and missed going to the FIA scales. I just didn't see it.”