Ilott continuing to work on tyre struggles

Callum Ilott is working hard to convert his recent qualifying success into a first Feature Race podium, labelling his continued battle with the notoriously difficult Pirelli rubber as the root of his problems.

The Sauber Junior Team by Charouz racer secured his second top 3 start in as many rounds, with third place, but admitted post-session that he has struggled to get to grips with tyre management this season, which has forced him into some slow finishes, and at times, retirements.

He admitted: “I need to do a better job with the tyres I think. In Monza, again, it wasn't as bad but I do struggle at the end of the races. We keep improving and trying to make that better - it's difficult.”

Despite the continued battle with his rubber at the end of races, the Briton has been much improved off the line, which culminated in him holding onto pole when the lights went out in Monza, although he would eventually retire in the dying stages.

“To be fair we made a big improvement on the starts, from all the previous races to Monza, and that showed,” he continued. “I think we're still progressing and it's getting there but there's still some things I have to work on and still some things with the car that we have to do.

“We're in a good window with the car for this weekend so I'm pretty happy and we'll see what we can do.”

Despite his pace so far in Sochi, the 20-year-old said that he didn’t expect to be so competitive this weekend, especially given the teams’ disappointment there last year, when they earned just one points’ finish.

“It was a tough track for the team here last year,” he continued. “I don't think we even qualified in the top 10, so to come away with P3 is not bad - I'll take that. There was a little bit more in it, but it was a good lap and I kept the pace the whole way.

“I was in the top four every lap, so not bad. It was a little bit pressured with the rain. I think we all tried to go out at the start and it was a bit bunched-up together, but I made the most it and did a good job. I'll take it.”

Ilott will be battling to get ahead of Championship top two Nyck de Vries and Nicholas Latifi in the Feature Race today, when action resumes at 4.45pm.