Felipe Nasr says Sauber gained plenty of valuable information from the first week of testing despite having its 2015 car in Barcelona.
Due to a late change to the calendar Sauber decided to push the introduction of its new car back to the second test, which starts next Tuesday. The team has struggled financially in recent times and did not bring many upgrades to the car last year after Nasr's fifth place finish on his debut in Australia.
Despite having the old car, Sauber still completed the third most laps -- 430 laps -- of anyone. Nasr insists the team gained important information ahead of the launch of the C35.
"There are many other things you can do," Nasr said. "We all wish the new car was ready before, but areas we didn't have time to explore last year we did it now. By running the old car we've had good days practicing our communication and procedures."
The Brazilian driver thinks Sauber will not have a good reference point for next week when it introduces the C35.
"It might sound boring, but we know the radio communications will be much more restricted this year, so it's good to practice them. Set-up work [too], they are all valid and worth doing. We really have a read on the tyres as well. By running the same car we had last year we know the references. It gives us an idea what to expect. It was valid."