Sauber withdraw from Barcelona testing

Sauber will be a notable absentee at Formula One’s in-season testing in Barcelona after confirming they have no new updates to introduce.

The Swiss team has endured a tough start to 2016 after being forced to delay the introduction of their new car, and failing to pay its staff in full for February.

On the track things have fared no better with Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr failing to score a single point in the opening four races – Ericsson’s 12th place in Bahrain their best result so far.

After the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix on May 15 the paddock will remain in Barcelona for the first test of the season, however Sauber have opted not to participate.

“Quick news: We cancelled the first in-season test in BCN [Barcelona],” the team posted on Twitter.

“There are 2 reasons: 1. We will not introduce a car update at the #SpanishGP. 2. We do not have a young/test driver available that fulfils the requirements.”

Sauber have not scored a championship point since the United States Grand Prix in October 2015, when Nasr finished ninth – taking the team’s season total to 36.

Report by OmniSport