JANUARY 26, 2014
Sauber C33 breaks cover
Sauber released a photo of it's 2014 Formula 1 chassis today.
Sauber released a photo of it's 2014 Formula 1 chassis today.
The Sauber C33 will be first seen on the track on Tuesday at the Jerez test.
Team Principal Monisha Kaltenborn said: "We have put a very challenging year behind us. The first half of 2013 in particular was difficult for us, but the second half saw us making significant strides. We learnt a great deal during this time and will be applying the lessons in the new season."
"Due to the radical changes in the technical regulations, predictions are simply impossible to make at this stage. Even more so than in previous years, any impression of how the teams stand against each other will only emerge once winter testing has been completed. That is also when we will announce our goals for the 2014 season. One thing's for sure: reliability will be of the essence, especially at the beginning of the season."
"Adrian is somebody we've been observing for some time and with whom we've been in contact since September. That is why I'm particularly delighted we've managed to get him on board. He has repeatedly demonstrated just how fast he is, and he isn't lacking in experience either, being about to enter his seventh season. In the light of the far-reaching technical changes, that is an advantage not to be underestimated."
"As for Esteban Guti©rrez, we have long considered him to be a talented racing driver. We know him extremely well as his connections with our team go back several years. Last year he had a difficult start, but managed to steadily progress. He has also settled into the team very well. We are confident he can now turn his experience into good results."
Adrian Sutil said, "After six good years in the same team, it was time for me to look for a new challenge. I'm determined to have a successful future with the Sauber F1 Team and will do my bit to ensure that. In recent years the team has repeatedly demonstrated its potential, not least in the second half of the last season. And as for infrastructure, the Sauber F1 Team are a match for anybody. I can't wait to take on the challenge!"
"Last season I had a steep learning curve," said Esteban Guti©rrez, "but working together with the team, I was able to make steady progress. This is my fourth year with the Swiss team, and the second as a racing driver. Last year I learnt a great deal and I feel ready for the next step. The 2014 season will be a huge challenge on the technical front, which makes it all the more important to know the people you work with well. I will do everything I can to improve further and to support the team with all the resources I have."
Eric Gandelin, Chief Designer, said, "Together, these changes present the engineers with a huge challenge, especially with time pressure also a major factor. We've had to make various decisions on the chassis before all the necessary data and information was available to us. That is understandable, given that engine development continues alongside that of the rest of the car up to the last possible moment. And ultimately, of course, that is in our interests as well."
"The radical changes to the technical regulations for 2014 mean that it's even harder than usual to make predictions for the new season," explained Chief Designer Eric Gandelin. "We know what kind of package we've put together here, but it is difficult to foresee what shape our rivals are in. The earliest opportunity to gain an impression of where the teams are in relation to one another will come during testing. The path we have followed with the design of the Sauber C33-Ferrari allows us maximum flexibility, so that we can react quickly. It is also clear that reliability will be an important factor in the first few races in particular. So this is an area which we have given very high priority."