F1: Sauber braced for point-less campaign...but still poised to advance

Sauber has admitted that it is going to be "tough" to avoid 2014 being its first ever season in Formula 1 without points.

The Swiss-based outfit has had a difficult campaign, with its car and engine package leaving it unable to get into the top 10. Adrian Sutil has finished in 11th place twice, in Australia and Hungary, while Esteban Gutierrez was on course to score in Monaco before clouting the barriers.

With Abu Dhabi's long straights not likely to help Sauber's situation, team boss Monisha Kaltenborn does not feel that this weekend offers any cause for optimism.

"It's going to be very tough," she said. "In Brazil we had our chance, and I think all was really looking well but it couldn't be implemented. So it's going to be extremely tough."

STILL NINTH IN STANDINGS

Although Sauber may end the season without points, Kaltenborn believes that her team will be classified ninth overall. That is because the absence of Marussia means that Sauber will move up the standings, and take the resulting financial benefits, too.

"In our view, if Marussia is not going to be there, which we don't think they will be, then we believe that we become ninth," she said.