Monisha Kaltenborn has called Sauber's recent aerodynamic upgrade "very promising" for 2016.
Sauber finally introduced a new aerodynamic package in Singapore after a season of limited development since winter testing. The team has showed some on-track progress since then, with Felipe Nasr's sixth place in Russia the best result for the team since he finished fifth in Australia.
Kaltenborn is happy with the upgrade and admits ensuring the team was in a good position for 2016 was more important than seeing an instant improvement in results. .
"We are looking to make a decent step [in 2016] I would say," Kaltenborn told F1i. "We are expecting again something more from the [Ferrari] powertrain.
"We have introduced this new concept with the package we have and more important on that package was not really the amount of downforce or points - of course you are trying to get the most - but more important was to see if the concept we are going in is the right way because we see a lot of potential in that. That proved to be the right one, which is very promising."
Despite happiness about the team's progress with the aerodynamic upgrade Kaltenborn is cautious about the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix.
"Abu Dhabi I would think [will suit the car] more. Brazil I am a bit careful because it is a bit more bumpy and we have had a few issues with them as one as seen. But, no, it's something which is a challenge we have to make up, it's no reason to give up straight away and you never know what can happen. One thing which has really spoken for us always is reliability and that's what I think has been a strength for us this year."