Felipe Nasr says finishing ninth in the Brazilian Grand Prix "tastes like victory" after Sauber moved above Manor in the Formula One constructors' standings.
Sauber appeared to be heading for a worst ever finish in the championship standings, having failed to record a single point across the first 19 races of 2016, while Pascal Wehrlein's Austrian Grand Prix point had seen Manor occupy 10th for the majority of the season.
Despite starting on the back row of the grid, Nasr took advantage of a chaotic rain-hit race at Interlagos to snatch ninth place. With Esteban Ocon slipping out of the points in the closing stages, the result means Sauber has leapfrogged Manor into 10th place, bringing hugely important financial gains with it if the Swiss team can hold position in Abu Dhabi.
"It tastes like a victory from the difficult situation we were all facing, I feel like we deserved it today," the Brazilian said. "It was like a dream come true and I couldn't have imagined of a better way to score these two points in a home grand prix here in Interlagos. Right now I cannot describe it but it just feels really good.
"It was a difficult race for everybody, difficult conditions and we were able to keep the car on track, hold some quicker cars. I was hoping the race was going to finish earlier on because we were a bit higher but I'm still super satisfied."
The result marked Nasr's first points in F1 since the 2015 United States Grand Prix, in which he also finished ninth. The Brazilian says he was relieved to have finally scored this year.
"Sometimes it comes once and I was there to take it. It was a while since I scored my last points in Formula One and it feels great. I'm happy for the team, two points that will give them some extra motivation and also for the championship it's very important."