Felipe Nasr buoyed by Sauber test performance

Felipe Nasr believes that he is getting to grips with his Sauber car as the new Formula 1 season beckons.

The Brazilian rookie finished day two of testing in Barcelona with the third-fastest time after 141 laps of the Circuit De Catalunya, and Nasr suggested that his time behind the wheel was a success.

"Today was very productive as we went through the whole programme," Nasr is quoted by The Checkered Flag as saying. "In the morning I was able to get a feeling for the car during the short-runs on the soft and medium compounds, which was quite positive.

"After the lunch break, I went through a race simulation on different tyres. It was a good experience, and I now have a better understanding for the car during the long-runs.

"I am also quite happy with the balance of the car. Again today we made another step forward, and we have to keep pushing in this direction."

Nasr and ex-Caterham driver Marcus Ericsson replaced experienced German racer Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez at Sauber for the 2015 season.