Sauber says it needs just a small step to return to the chase for podiums

The Hinwil-based outfit has had a mixed start to the campaign - with the highs of Sergio Perez's challenge on victory in Malaysia contrasting with its failure to score any points in Bahrain.

However, chief designer Matt Morris thinks that although the fluctuations in form have been quite dramatic, he thinks the underlying competitiveness of its C31 means it can target further good results.

"I don't think Malaysia was a freak," Morris said. "The pace of our car, it is competitive - and you have seen that by having four different winners from the first four races. It is so close out there.

"I think the difference between a Malaysia and a Bahrain for us looks big, but it is actually quite small. Yet, that can be the difference between being on the podium and not getting any points."

Morris thinks it vital that Sauber works out exactly how to extract the maximum it can from its car, so it does not squander the points advantage it built up early in the campaign.

"You have always got to look forward, but you also have got to look at everybody around you because it is so close," he said. "With Williams and Force India being good points scorers, it is very close again.

"We had a 30-point margin to them and that has been reduced massively, so we need to look at what those guys are doing."