Sauber positive after opening practice

The team found some benefits and settings to try before qualifying tomorrow.

Technical director James Key identified finding consistency in lap times as the goal and making the C29 easier to drive for Kamui Kobayashi and Pedro de la Rosa.

"The consistency from lap to lap needs a bit of work," Key said. "If we look at the sector times they don't really reflect the lap times, so we have to make sure the drivers can get the best out of the car over one lap."

Kobayashi noted an improvement in the car's balance over the two sessions, an indicator that the upgrades have made a difference, and is confident the team make further improvements before Sunday's race.

The Japanese driver said: "With the new aero package we now have to work to get the balance right. It is getting reasonable, but we have to analyse the data and I'm sure there is more to come."

Despite some drivers suffering a severe amount of graining, particularly in practice one, de la Rosa was happy with the tyre performance and enjoyed his first running on the street circuit.

"Both tyres worked quite well on the warm asphalt, and I don't expect anything like the issues we had in Canada," the Spaniard said. "For me it was the first time driving on this track. It took me a few laps to learn it, especially the many braking points, but I quickly liked it."

Kobayashi and de la Rosa finished 14th and 15th respectively in practice two with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso setting the fastest time with a 1m39.283s lap.